Venice Italy

As I sat in a less tourist traveled area square, I sat on a bench with a native Venetian beside me. Her eyes were fixed on the activities of small children walking a dog, kicking a small ball, a group of church-going women squawking and carrying on in their expressive Italian language. This aged woman beside me was visibly entertained by what was being said. I myself was observing all of this including her. I looked over towards her. She smiled, giggled the most adorable light chuckle & turned back toward the square. I smiled & also turned my head once again toward the activities in front of me.
Nothing said, only observed for a short hour. In this time, my Italian bench buddy would occasionally slide closer and then a bit down as people would sit beside her. She was holding her newspaper in which she'd only occasionally open up, scan, fold up giggle and continue her observations.
In this experience, there was only our mutual connection to humanity. So much history & tradition which was discovered as a result of stepping off the beaten path not well traveled by tourists. Italians carrying out their recreational lives on the island. I felt like a background splash of color to this Venetian Painting of life.

Images to come...