Venice and the memory of water

LAST week I was in Venice for the opening of the 60th Venice Biennale, titled Stranieri Ovunque (Foreigners Everywhere). There were indeed foreigners everywhere, and lots of thought-provoking encounters with art and with people.

It was an overwhelming trip. I am still processing a lot of my experiences, and I know they will seep into my writing over the next few months.

But while there, despite the crowded streets, the sudden cold, rainy days, and the queues to get into pavilions, I kept reminding myself that I was in Venice, this magical city that people have been walking and floating through since at least the fifth century.