Our journey began in Venice, which you’ve already seen in a sneak peak. The flight was long as we flew threw JFK and Dublin, but we both perked up at the first sight of the canals and winding alleys. I always knew that Venice had many waterways, but I didn’t realize until we arrived that there are literally no roads. Tiny winding alleys and many bridges make up the city and occasionally give-way to a larger open space or piazza. So what is there to do in Venice? Get lost! The tiny alleyways make Venice like a big maze with a new surprise around every corner from wonderful food to endless shopping. You’re never too far from that next espresso, and I may have a new leather purse…or two. When in Italy, right? Lucky for me, I just married a guy who works with maps all of the time and I’ve got a pretty good sense of direction myself, so we only got semi-lost one time and managed to walk a big percentage of the area.
There are a few historic sites to take in as well. Piazza San Marco was the main hot spot as it features a Basilica and the Doge's Palace. St. Mark's Basilica was gorgeous inside and out, and it featured intricately detailed mosaic ceilings and walls that were breathtaking. A gold alter displayed amazing craftsmanship and giant horse statues guarded the front of the building. We climbed to the top and took in the piazza from above. Little did I know that was one of many climbs to come! The Doge's Palace, where the government officials used to meet, featured a gold staircase and many lavishly decorated rooms.
Murano is a small island just off Venice that is known for its glass blowing. Our hotel offered a free boat ride so we decided to check it out. The boat took us to a back entrance and we were greeted on the dock….warning….tourist trap! We tried to just walk into the main part of the village but they asked if we wanted to see the shop so we thought, why not. Watching the master make an intricate statue was very interesting but then they lead you through room after room of bowls and statues and things you would have never thought of. The prices went down with each room they showed but once we got out of that family’s shop we found all the streets to be lined with glass shops as well. The trip to Murano was my least favorite part of the entire trip to Italy just because of the in-you-face hard sell to the tourists.
And what you knew was coming…a gondola ride. It is a must. We started our ride at San Marco Square just as the sun was starting to set. As we made our way into the tiny canals, the sound of the tourists melted away and we took in the city from a different view. The gondola drivers are like dancers, expertly guiding the boat back and forth, mere inches from the edges of buildings, never bumping a single inch as they squeeze by. The ride was very peaceful and the driver pointed out a few key buildings as we glided by them. By the time we arrived back at the dock all that was left of the sun was a burning orange glow across the sky, gorgeous.
For some reason the video we took on the gondola won't upload so you can check it out HERE along with the rest of our pictures.
Venice proved the perfect first stop on our Italian adventure as there were just a few sites to see and we did not feel rushed to get to the next thing. We were able to relax and enjoy a variety of wonderful food and wine.
Tips: Be prepared to pay for transportation if you want to get anywhere quickly. A private water taxi will cost you around $100 Euros from the airport, so pack light and take the public water bus.
