We only stayed in Venice for one night. And what an interesting night it was!
We took a short flight from Paris to Venice via a 'cheap as chips' airline! Once there, we queued up at the ticket machine to get one-way water bus tickets to the city proper. Fifty-three (yes 53!!!) euro later, we set off dragging our bags on the long haul from airport to boat dock.
Naturally, things could not go smoothly. In the heat of the afternoon, we arrived only to be told that the water bus was full and that we would have to wait an hour for the next one (thank goodness that there was a toilet nearby!). The swaying of the waiting dock didn't help my non-sea legs so I opted to stay on terra firma for most of this time.
Once in Venice, we took in the beautiful sites......lovely waterways filled with boats and the famous gondolas. We were lucky as our hotel accommodation was near the Rialto Bridge, therefore not a long walk with luggage.
Our evening and next day were spent mainly taking in the sights and walking the narrow streets of Venice. I loved the beauty and the uniqueness of the city. The fact that there are no cars in Venice makes it so much easier to manoeuvre. Unfortunately, this beauty is marred by litter and graffiti. We saw bins over-flowing with rubbish and waterways that had debris floating in them.
Our exit to Venice, however was not particularly fun. When we arrived at the Vaporetti station with luggage in tow, we were told that there was a strike and we would have to walk to the station. What following was a 30-40 minute walk in the incredible heat lugging bags over oh-so-cute bridges that were not made for heavy bags with wheels. This also meant that we missed our train and had to wait for over 2 hours for another one....without designated seats....as the strike had effected all national transport!
By the end, we wondered if we were cursed with transport issues!
BEST SIGHT-SEEING EXPERIENCE.....walking through this city is an experience in itself and nothing like anything we've ever experienced before. Of course, we did the obligatory walk to San Marco Piazza.
OTHER THINGS WE DID.....we shopped! There are amazing little shops in Venice.
CULINARY DELIGHTS......Gelati!!!! They are everywhere in Venice and very cheap. We had dinner at a sidewalk pizza and pasta ristorante which was very tasty.
THE KIDS RECOMMEND......shopping at the street carts in San Marco. The Superteen was delighted with his Italian football team shirts that he bought there.
BEST TIP.....watch out for hawkers who shower you with compliments while giving you long-stemmed roses. They want money for them! And if you decide that you do want to feel romantic while carrying a long stemmed rose around Venice, barter with the street seller before accepting. They want one price but are willing to go lower!
NEXT TIME....we would love to do a trip to some of the outer islands and stay longer.
