29 March 2022
Straight for coffees. Same spot. Different staff. It makes a difference. We sorted out the problems. It was cold on the water today. We have our arrival time for Cambodia. For the first time since the journey started, we know when it will end. Strangely it is not foreboding but it is exciting.
“Every phrase and every sentence is an end and a beginning, every poem an epitaph.” ― T.S. Eliot
We stroll about the city. The crowds are building already. This place is brilliant. Winding streets, beautiful architecture. The entire place sits on the water. You have this incredible city, floating. No cars, boats. Bridges crossing rivers. It is a brilliant place.
I refuse to be part of the crowd. It can’t stand to be just another number in the mob. I think I may be.
“The Genius Of The Crowd
there is enough treachery, hatred violence absurdity in the average
human being to supply any given army on any given day
and the best at murder are those who preach against it
and the best at hate are those who preach love
and the best at war finally are those who preach peace
those who preach god, need god
those who preach peace do not have peace
those who preach peace do not have love
beware the preachers
beware the knowers
beware those who are always reading books
beware those who either detest poverty
or are proud of it
beware those quick to praise
for they need praise in return
beware those who are quick to censor
they are afraid of what they do not know
beware those who seek constant crowds for
they are nothing alone
beware the average man the average woman
beware their love, their love is average
seeks average
but there is genius in their hatred
there is enough genius in their hatred to kill you
to kill anybody
not wanting solitude
not understanding solitude
they will attempt to destroy anything
that differs from their own
not being able to create art
they will not understand art
they will consider their failure as creators
only as a failure of the world
not being able to love fully
they will believe your love incomplete
and then they will hate you
and their hatred will be perfect
like a shining diamond
like a knife
like a mountain
like a tiger
like hemlock
their finest art”
― Charles Bukowski
It is hard to complain about crowds. Are we no different from everyone else here? Are we simply more numbers? Apparently, this is the quiet time of year. There are thousands of people in the streets. It would be a nightmare in summer.
We get hungry. Head to a recommended spot. It is packed and before 12.30 pm. We find another place. On the water. It is chilly today. Pasta to start, ragu and seafood. A lamb shank to share. I tried to order a Spritz with Prosecco. Failed. Same as yesterday. Lunch is delicious.
Head to our new place. Check in and put our feet up for a few hours. Book our train back to Rome. Start thinking of the logistics to Bari and on to Albania. Albania is simple, ferry. It might take several train trips to get to Bari on the regional trains.