✦ Part of Italy Trip 2026
Things carry the character of their constraints · September 8, 2026 · 9:54amThings take on the character of when they’re constructed, and because they are shaped by constraints of time they were constructed they are forever intertwined with that character, the feeling of that time. The 1920s…
Things take on the character of when they’re constructed, and because they are shaped by constraints of time they were constructed they are forever intertwined with that character, the feeling of that time. The 1920s spanish-revival houses dotted across Los Angeles, the textured exposed brick buildings in Florence versus the modern generic “Anywhere, USA” aesthetic so prevalent these days. This character osmosis also applies to people.
September 17, 2026
8:22am -
Venice is magical for its improbability
As I’m trying to put together why Venice feels like such a magical place, beyond the fairytale-like novelty that the Venetians loathe being sterotyped for — I think its for actually for its improbability.
That this place was created in the first place. That the city was built more than a thousand years ago with the limited resources and tools that they had back then. That it still exists to this day, that it is still a living, breathing city.
And to walk around the city, and see up close every texture, fabric, stone, sidewalk with such detail and to think that its been around, maintained, lived in for centuries despite nature’s attempt at entropy is something to behold, and can only be fully appreciated in person. Because of its lack of cars, bikes, scooters, (sure, it has small boats but) it’s mostly experienced in person, by walking. These constraints completely change how it feels to move about within the city. And during the “rush hour” (people going to work, taking their kids to school) it feels truly alive in a different way (bursting at the seams with human energy) that than I’ve ever experienced, in that beauty in the chaos kind of way that I’ve felt multiple times now on this trip.
But Venice has internal bleeding. The rush hour is thinning. Driven out by tourism and rising rents1. Me being one of them! — apartments turning over to people who stay a weekend. The very places and people that carry forward the culture and customs are leaving. It held off the water for a thousand years. It may not hold off us. If Venice goes away, it can’t come back. Am I part of the problem?
Friction as a feature of Venice's canals · September 18, 2026 · 8:27pmVenice is also a microcosm of friction as a feature in the sense that most anything large or heavy brought in has to be done by boat. And even the boats themselves are limited in width, hull depth by the canals. This…
Venice is also a microcosm of friction as a feature in the sense that most anything large or heavy brought in has to be done by boat. And even the boats themselves are limited in width, hull depth by the canals. This means anything transported or built here has to be really intentional.