Tweeting the Trip
Author: Gourmantic Posted on: November 10, 2009 at 4:48 pm

Before I set out of a five week long trip, I gave myself a task of providing updates of the holiday through Twitter. Not being a compulsive user, I had reservations whether I could accomplish it so I added another element to the challenge. I told family and friends that the only way to stay informed was through the Gourmantic twitter page.

Although internet access was limited at times and other activities took precedence, I kept my end of the challenge. Looking back at the tweets now, makes me ponder.

Can a maximum of 140 characters tell snippets of a travel story? Has Twitter become the equivalent of the modern-day postcard? Have we finally given up on the romance of handwritten notes on the back of glossy cards for the speed and convenience of a few keystrokes?

Below is the series of tweets in the order they were posted. They form an outline of snippets in time. Soon, they will tell the full story.

[...]

Roasted chestnuts bought in Piazza dei Signori in Padova. Che buoni! #Italy

Experienced Venice under aqua alta. Needed gumboots! #Italy

Got acquainted with Spritz in Treviso. Prosecco, Aperol or Campari and soda. Ancora uno! #Italy

After a magical day on the islands of Murano, Burano and Torcello, I was entranced by the sun setting over the Venetian lagoon. #Venice

Burano is even more beautiful than anticipated. Brightly-painted houses reflecting in tranquil waters. So many photo opportunities!

Call me ‘La Gourmantica’. A few more weeks here in #Italy and I may just become fluent in Italian.

Vicenza is whisper-quiet. Its centre is area pedonale. At noon it looked almost deserted. Lunched on melt-in-mouth gnocchi tartufati.

20 days. 7907 photos. 3 countries Many towns/cities. It’ll take a year just to sort and catalogue them!

Ate masanette, seasonal miniature crabs from the #Veneto region. Only available for a few weeks in the year. Buonissimi!

Had a forgettable lunch at Piazza Bra’. Got damp pants from wet seats. Make of that what you will. #Verona

Would have loved to see a live performance at Arena di Verona. “Twas awesome just standing in it.

Like many others, left a memento on the walls at Casa di Giuelietta in #Verona. With Romeo…

No of times heard @Muse Uprising on Italian radio so far: 3. Bought the new CD in London. Haven’t had a chance to listen yet.

Through sleepy eyes, saw the sun setting over #Padova from the train.

Vaporetto strike AND aqua alta spilling onto Piazza S. Marco turned #Venice into a tourist shuffle. Saw Lido Beach in the wet. Uninspiring.

Loved the fish markets at the Rialto. Would have loved to bring some home and cook it. Took many photos instead. #Venice

Ate typical dishes from the Veneto region that made me swoon. They’ll get their own posts complete with photos.

Got mistaken for a local while ordering dinner at a restaurant. Was told my accent sounded very Italian! Sono molto contenta.

[...]