Venice. Amazing. Beautiful. Smelly...Seeing as the experience was an African one, I traversed the city listening to Akon on my iPod, seemed fitting really.
Europe, that big scary dominant world force. A place where most travellers go. Of all places I end up in Venice to spend the day. So I nervously check my bag into the train station and head off to explore a bit. With no idea where to go or what to do I manage to get myself onto the ferry which heads up and down the canal.
Lucky for me I have my hair up and my tattoo on display, not by any real choice other than I had disgustingly messy and oily hair and it’s better that the hair remains hidden than look like a complete hobo. So the biggest Senegalese man I have ever seen gets on the ferry and lucky for me notices the tattoo and comes over for a chat. He found it hilarious and confusing that I have no idea where I am going, no idea what to do and have no form of map to get myself around. He is a security guard in Venice and I can see why, he’s huge, strong and can put on a serious-don’t-mess-with-me face. But to me he is an absolute sweetheart, friendly and inviting.
He took me to meet the fabulous Moulaye Niang the Senegalese born, Murano trained maker of fine Afro-inspired beads and jewellery. I wrote the following piece on him for the Edirisa website so click here to have a read of it because he really is one of a kind. I am pretty certain if you contact him he would make and post you a piece for the right price, worth it I would say. I have my very own unique African inspired, Muranero necklace and it’s absolutely stunning. I had the best time in Venice thanks to these lovely men, we had coffee, lunch and just chatted all day. I actually wish I had of spent more time there just to be around their beautiful and caring spirits. I mean who else would take a stranger into their place and spend the day entertaining them other than Africans? It’s great to see that their hospitable and friendly nature travels with them, even if they have become trendy Venice dwelling citizens sipping on espresso's and biting nimbly into bruscetta all day.
One Love
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