All to show their contribution to the global melting pot of culture.

An amazing labyrinth of canals, staircases, bridges, narrow walkways and crumbling stones, Venice gives one the impression of a civilization born upon water itself. An independent race of mankind, that never invented the wheel and who’s evolutionary path seems to be headed in the direction of growing outboard motors out of their backs. It was apparent the water was the way to move when I first saw the Venice police in hot pursuit on a speed boat, quickly catching the perpetrator, who was on foot. Without any buses, trams, cars or even bicycles, Venice has a peacefulness and quietness that is quite unique for a city, when all these tiny disturbances are taken for granted in most urban areas. But on the other hand, all this lack of vehicles makes skateboarding one of the fastest modes of transportation in this town. So fast apparently, that it caught the local pidgins off guard and I hit a couple of these pampered flying rats as I skated through town.

While I was in Venice, the art Biennale was taking place all over town, with the major nations of the world building grand pavilions and squatting old halls of arts and science. All to show their contribution to the global melting pot of culture. The largest exhibit takes place in the Arsenal, the former military barracks that used to house all the weaponry of the city. At first it seems a bit odd, the exhibit is presented quite well, but upon more consideration, when you think about this modern world of ours, and the fact of a mutually assured destruction in the event of modern warfare, maybe culture is the modern weapon of choice and the Biennale is well housed, accordingly.