Italy was money and frivolousness, oftentimes carried to their most absurd levels. Venice, the "crown jewel" of my three-month-long walk in that nation, was perhaps an excellent microcosm of that country's character. There I found a breathtakingly beautiful city of culture and history and, too, a conglomeration of religious architecture so splendidly huge and richly adorned that no modern-day government could afford to recreate such a fairytale island. Yet at the same time, Venice was as much a carnival, a "historic Disneyland," as it was the sophisticated kingdom it likes to portray itself as. Side by side with its ecstacy and its Peggy Gugenheim art collections were what seemed to be innumerable vendors of just about anything plastic or sweet imaginable--from "Made in Japan" gondola lamps to what is undoubtedly the most scrumptious ice cream this side of the real heaven. As in most of Italy, the number of visitors (mostly German and American) this time of year seemed to make the Italians look like an endangered species. During the four days I explored Venice's maelstrom of big-headed dieties, clanging bells, flapping pigeons, delighted laugter, and clicking cameras, I honestly believe I met more twangy-voiced Texans and Okies than I'd ever met at any one time in Oklahoma City or San Antonio. -- Letters From Steven book, pg. 143