Cities of Water, Urban Sea...Travel Impressions

Draws on personal travel experiences in ports throughout Portugal & the Azores, & in the seaside metropolises of Lisbon, Barcelona (Spain), & Venice (Italy), to discuss the sea's effect on urban identity & a city's mode of life. At issue are the influences of the sea's natural boundary, the isolation provided by its vast expanse, its role in a city's heritage, & the common compulsions to perceive cities as urban seas. Atlantic ports such as Lisbon are compared to the Mediterranean cities of Barcelona & Venice, attributing to each the human characteristics of fragility, femininity, & isolation. 4 References. D. Bajo