Wandering a Ways in Venice
The slowing Frecciarossa (high speed red train) coasted into the station and just like that we were expelled onto the streets of Venice for our last leg of Italy! Within seconds, you could tell that Venice was not your oh-so-ordinary city due to the maze of waterways and boats in every direction. However, with backpacks that seemed particularly ornery that day, we begrudgingly figured that we should check in first to our hotel before running amuck.
Luckily, the Hotel Hesperia was not far from the train station and we reached it easily. It was located near the north waterways but a little farther away from the beaten path (of which by now I’m sure you’ve learned that we appreciate this very much). While a little old and outdated, the hotel proved to be a nice launching point for our two nights in Venice.
Our first destination was to head towards the Rialto Bridge landmark and snap some snazzy photographs while we worked ourselves towards St. Mark’s Square. It was mesmerizing to see the boats whipping back and forth or being guided carefully by singing gondoliers. We also never got tired of crossing the little canals by bridge or watching the plethora of dogs (seemingly) walking their owners!
With the Rialto now trophied on a SIM card, it was just a few more minutes to St. Mark’s Square. And it was here where we found all the crowds! We needed a bit of space from it all so we ascended the tower in order to get a birds-eye view of it all.
Back on the ground, we spent the rest of the evening wandering the streets without much of an agenda. Several recommendations hinted at just getting lost in the streets and seeing where they take you. In practice, we think it’s actually impossible to NOT get lost at some point. Highlights of our nomadic evening included some highly entertaining street performers, colorful window shopping, and watching the lights twinkle on as the sky faded to darkness. We ate a modest dinner in a nearby cafeteria before calling it a day (and taking care of some work that evening).
Well rested the next day, we picked up our pace to explore St. Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace before lunch. It has been absolutely fascinating to learn about each civilization and their contributions throughout history! While St. Mark’s was inspiring (we even got to climb to the roof), it was the Doge’s Palace that really blew us away. The doge was the elected leader of Venice for many years and he held a lot or only a little power depending on the century. His palace was used for both living and diplomacy and was pretty incredible throughout.
Next, we stopped off for a quick lunch before hopping on a water taxi to the island of Murano. It is here where some of the finest glass in Italy is produced for art or to be turned into jewelry or housewares. We browsed the storefronts and invested in some gelato for an hour or two before heading back to the mainland.
In much need of a rest (see the Webster’s dictionary entry for “drink”) we next made our way to the famous Harry’s bar where they invented the Bellini. We promptly walked in, made friends with the couple next to us, and promptly walked out after discovering the 21€ price tag on these Bellinis. We settled for some much less expensive alternatives a little ways down the street and were able to drink them with a nice view of the harbor.
Then it was off on a water bus to get dinner! We had targeted Trattoria Pontini because we had read great reviews for both the food and the service. It was also very close to the hotel! This proved to be highly convenient due to the long wait. After about 1hr and 45 mins, we finally were seated at a table and had one of the best meals so far in Italy! Simply prepared Italian staples – Spaghetti a la Bolognese and Gnocchi Pomodoro – were hearty and well executed. Plus, the Tiramisu just melted in your mouth! We highly recommend this restaurant, just don’t forget to make a reservation!
Our last day in Italy started strong with a two hour session of coffee drinking and post card writing at a cafe down a market street. Yes, we also thought it was a very appropriate ending of a travel chapter. 🙂 However our final stop was actually at the oldest wine bar in Venice, Cantina Do Mori, which has been around for almost 600 years.
Two glasses of wine and some delicious ciccetti (Italian tapas) later, we were on our way to the airport and bound for the UK! Venice was a wonderful exit from enchanting Italy, and we can’t wait to be back someday!
GP