It was the end of my Erasmus term, and I was on a trip around some places in Europe—mainly Italy. As my travels were coming to an end and it was almost time to go back home, a part of me felt sad. In every pretty place I saw, or during each fun activity I did, I was aware that these good days would pass, and I would return to my ordinary life.
The night I took this photo, my friend and I had decided to spend more hours in Venice rather than take the train we had originally bought tickets for. It was a warm May night, and after a boat trip along the canals, we sat in a corner of Piazza San Marco. While sipping cheap wine and looking around, we noticed something curious: the water in the square was rising, forcing people to walk only along certain paths to avoid getting wet. At this time of year, the water would rise at night and recede by morning—a phenomenon the Venetians call Acqua Alta (high water).
Watching the water rise and knowing it would eventually go away made me realise that everything in life is temporary. My trips would end, but life back home would also remain in constant flux. So instead of resisting change, it seemed better to observe and appreciate it. That’s what I did—by enjoying the reflections of the lights shimmering in the water.