After 3 days of traveling, our train crossed over open water and pulled into the station. We stepped off the train and into a watercolor painting. Venice is an enchanting city. No cars and only canals that connect the city together. Boats of all shapes and sizes nudge along the river edge and jostle for position in the main canal. Somehow in the side canals, they slide past each other easily, with seemingly no rules on direction or approach, but somehow all the drivers understand. After gawking at the unbelievably picturesque dome across the canal that greets travelers just off the train, we crossed over the large bridge and were immediately plunged into a maze of narrow cobbled streets lined with shuttered windows complete with hanging flower beds. The walls were an authentic jumble of color flaking away to show charming brick beneath. Weaving through the maze of narrow alleyways, we often came to canals with just the right arched bridge to cross to the other side. We also came to canals without any bridge and had to turn around. It’s a wonderful place to get lost in.
We found our Airbnb right in the heart of the city and after several unusual doors that paired with even more unusual skeleton keys, we settled into our room on the top floor. It had two shuttered windows that opened up right over a bustling alleyway. I quickly realized that I could lay in bed and just listen to the sounds of Venice right outside the window: clinking dishes at the café’s, boots ringing on the cobblestone, pigeons flapping to dodge those passing by. I loved to just lay there and listen in the early hours of the morning when Tyler was still asleep but the jet lag robbed sleep from me. I didn’t really mind though as I could listen to the shop owners getting ready for another busy day.
We had no plan for Venice. And really, that’s the way it should be experienced. We left our place without a destination or an agenda and simply allowed the flow of the canals sweep us along. We found magical little corners that I’m sure no visitor has ever seen before. It felt like walking through an MC Escher painting with all the archways, bridges, and canals winding every which way. We sat on a bench at the park square and quietly observed how the city moves. We scoped out the best cafes and discovered Italian pizza, pasta, and panini’s. Tyler loved trying all the gelato flavors while I snapped pictures, failing to capture the emotion of the city. We took it slow and soaked in as much of the flavor of Venice as we could.
Venice
We debated for three days on if we should go on a gondola ride or not. It was 90 euros for half an hour and with the conversion rate and exchange taxes it would have been well over 100 to do it. We finally decided against it and enjoyed the city in our own way, which I honestly think was more romantic. I loved to watch them float through the canals like a living painting. I only heard a few singing, but Tyler and I were humming the only Italian song we knew from Lady and the Tramp often as we strolled along. One gondola had a guitar player which accompanied the viaual beautifully. One square we stumbled across had an accordian player which added to the ambience immensely. I couldn’t believe how enchanting the whole experience was. Sure, there were many tourists in the apparently famous areas, but my favorite was discovering the quite parts. We found the cutest little café with plants growing in a canopy over the small tables that sat right by a canal with gondolas sliding past. We ordered pasta dishes and asked for water that came out in a glass bottle that the smartly dressed waiter popped open to fill our wine glasses. It all felt very European.
Walkabout 