Jordan Watch : One day in Venice

On a chilling December day, a group of six arab guys was about to invade Venice. Me, and other friends from Palestine, Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria and Iraq were heading for one of the most amazing cities in the world, with shivers in our bones in a 0 Celsius degress day, with sunshine to make it more sarcastic.

Once we got out of the Santa Lucia train station, we realised that we were the wrong group in the right place. This city is so romantic and it will be a complete mistake and waste of time for six guys to stroll around. You should be with someone you love to assimilate the atmosphere (a heavy coat will be useful also) and at that moment each one of us thought how better it would be to switch the other guys with a wife, a fiance or a girlfriend.

Trying to seize the opportunity we wanted to see everything in 3 hours, and we started with a waterboat that would cross the "Grand Canal" which is the main attraction of the city. Boarding the boat, we saw people going into the closed glass compartments on the boat and we thought how stupid are they to miss the chance to see everything and take photos. So, this group of smart guys wanted to remain on the outside, and started to take photos and then we were subjected to the coldest air and wind I have ever felt in my life. It was so cold to the point that it was a torture to get your hands out of your pocket to take a photo.

The group of smart guys did not learn, which seems to be a joint Arabic trait. After the waterboat left the shallow and tight routes of the Grand Canal and entered the wider water course a new surprise was there. Waves struck the boat and the six smart guys were all soaked in water and shivering like wet cats.

After this cold bath we had to go as early as possible to our location, 200 Km east of Venice in Trieste in train having a tough flu that kept us sneezing throughout the 5 days workshop that followed.

For me I would be back there in the summer with my wife as soon as I find extra 2,000 JDs in my bank account and I urge you all to do the same. It is a unique city by which Italy is blessed.