Day Trip to Venice, Italy

Photography & Good Food

Jaiden and I spent time taking pictures, which went well… eventually. I’m laughing because Jaiden had barely ever taken professional photos before. By the 100th shot, I had to give him some verbal lessons on the camera mechanics. He caught on really fast and started to take good photos!

A man in a black leather jacket, black pants, and black shoes stands at the edge of a bridge over a canal. He is looking to his left. The background shows colorful buildings with windows and balconies lining the canal, which is likely in Venice, Italy, given the architecture and waterway. The light is soft, suggesting early morning or late afternoon.

A man standing on a small bridge beside a canal in a city with classic European architecture. He is dressed in black clothes, including a leather jacket and black shoes. The canal is lined with buildings, some with green and brown window shutters. In the background, boats can be seen on the canal, and the lighting suggests it could be late afternoon. The atmosphere is calm, with reflections on the water and warm tones in the buildings.

A man standing and leaning against a stone balustrade, with a canal and colorful buildings in the background. The weather appears sunny and bright. The man is wearing a black leather jacket, black pants, and black shoes, and is smiling. The scene behind him includes outdoor seating areas with red umbrellas, water, and a row of buildings typical of European, possibly Italian, canal cities.

After the photoshoot, we were really hungry. We found a restaurant where I ordered Gnocchi, an Italian pasta that is like dumplings made of potatoes, semolina, or flour, typically served with tomato sauce. Jaiden got the Frito Miso, which is fried seafood. Even though the restaurant was high-end and our food was good, we were surprised by the price – it cost us an arm and a leg!

A large white plate containing gnocchi in a rich-looking tomato-based sauce, garnished with a small sprig of parsley in the center. The plate is decorated with three broad, yellow brushstrokes of what appears to be a sauce or puree, elegantly framing the dish. In the background, there's another plate with what looks like fried seafood or calamari on greens, accompanied by lemon wedges and flatbread, and a drink in a glass with a yellow tint. On the right side of the image, there is a white plate with some breadsticks or pastries. The table is set in a warm-lit restaurant environment.

Gondolas & Secret Language

After lunch, we went for a gondola ride. The boats were pretty cool and were decorated for the rides. Our driver and others passing by were all teasing us because we were two men on the ride! Usually, it’s a romantic ride for couples, but nope, just me and Jaiden today. Haha!

Gondola tip on a Venetian canal. The image is taken from inside a gondola on the water, looking ahead towards a small arched footbridge connecting two old buildings. The waterway is narrow, lined by traditional Venetian architecture with weathered walls and shuttered windows. There are ornate golden decorations on the gondola's prow in the foreground. On the bridge ahead, a couple of people are visible, and the overall atmosphere is characteristic of Venice’s romantic and historic charm.

Two people sitting on a gondola. The gondola is on a canal in Venice, Italy, with tall buildings closely lining the water on either side. It is dusk or evening, so the lighting is low and some lights are on in the windows. The gondola has ornate decorations, with red and gold accents and cushioned seats. Both individuals are smiling and appear relaxed, enjoying their time on the water. The canal and the mooring post are visible near them, suggesting the gondola is near the edge of the canal, possibly about to start or just finishing a ride.

A narrow canal in Venice at dusk, bordered by tall, colorful buildings with many windows and balconies. Warm yellow lights from the buildings reflect on the water, creating a cozy atmosphere. A small arched pedestrian bridge crosses the canal in the background. Boats are moored along the canal edges, and shutters on windows are mostly closed or partially open, adding to the evening setting.

As we were walking, we started filming videos for our Italian intercultural assignment. Without knowing, we recorded ourselves speaking Italian in front of our professor’s college. When we showed her later, we were all surprised by the coincidence, almost as if it was meant to be.

Reflections

Jaiden and I spent some time reflecting on our semester. It was good to debrief our time in Milan, especially since we’re two of only three students from Hope College in this program. Even though I didn’t know Jaiden before this trip, I’m beyond grateful God put him in my life. We’ve had countless talks about life, and our friendship has grown stronger. Without this unique study abroad opportunity, I don’t think we would’ve met even though we attend the same college. When we go back to Hope, we’ve decided to speak our “secret” language on campus – Haha!

This trip was amazing, and Venice was one of the nicest cities I’ve been to in my life!

Ciao raggazi

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