Travel2CityA notebook of journeys
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Chapter 05 / 09 · Mea’s notebook

Italy and Vatican City

The city reflected

Italy and Vatican City — Mea Zen’s illustrated journey

In Venice the buildings had doubles. The water drew them again, changed its mind and began once more. I found this reassuring. Apparently a first attempt was not binding.

I followed that thought through other cities. Stone could look weightless. A room could seem to continue beyond its ceiling. A familiar word could become a completely unfamiliar shape when written in another hand.

The notebook acquired reflections, corrections and one page that I liked better upside down. I kept all three.

An imagined travel diary inspired by original Travel2City photographs. Mea’s scenes and words are a creative interpretation, not a documentary account.

01

A second version of the world

Venice — illustrated scene with Mea Zen
01
Venice

The water was making a second draft of the city.

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Venice — illustrated scene with Mea Zen
02
Venice

I decided to become less embarrassed by revisions.

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Florence — illustrated scene with Mea Zen
03
Florence

Looking up was becoming a useful habit.

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Florence — illustrated scene with Mea Zen
04
Florence

Some surfaces reward a second look, then a third.

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02

Room for another view

Rome — illustrated scene with Mea Zen
05
Rome

The columns held a space the sky could enter.

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Rome — illustrated scene with Mea Zen
06
Rome

On the steps, nobody had the same afternoon.

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Vatican — illustrated scene with Mea Zen
07
Vatican

I lowered my voice, though the ceiling had plenty to say.

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Lake Garda — illustrated scene with Mea Zen
08
Lake Garda

The lake offered a simpler page. I was ready for it.

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