Every single thing about Venice is memorable.
Imagine boarding a plane in Atlanta, sitting in a really uncomfortable seat for 9 hours on your way to Italy. Finally, you land, making your way through an army of fellow travelers at immigration and customs, looking for the exit and a way to get to Venice.
You look for a machine that may or may not work for purchasing a ferry ticket to Venice. You find one, but unfortunately, the instructions are in Italian, and the machine only accepts Euros. The signs point in different directions, and you hope to see a boat to somewhere. None of this is familiar to you, even with your guidebook.
You persevere and find a boat that seems to be heading to where you want to be. Hop aboard and squeeze into a tiny space, and soon your boat is racing across the water towards the city. You aren’t sure where you’re going or where to get off, but this is one terrific ride, just like you imagined it to be. You hang on, try to use your iPhone to take photos, and hope you don’t drop it overboard.
Suddenly, the boat pulls in near Piazza San Marco (if you’re on the right boat) and you’re where you’ve always wanted to be. I took the image shown here while standing at that very dock, so if it looks familiar to you, great. You’re in the right place.
You’ll be surrounded by hundreds of fellow visitors. Since the streets of Venice are narrow, you’ll have to navigate (lugging your heavy bag) like salmon fighting to get upstream. It’s a challenge to see street signs and GPS signals, which are very, very iffy, so you’ll need to stop about every 10 feet to ask where you are and how to get to your destination. Don’t be concerned. Everyone does this. When you reach your hotel or destination, you’ll feel like you accomplished something extraordinary. My advice is to take a brief rest and go out headlong into the city.
Now the fun part. Even with the zillions of people around you, there are countless places to visit, eat, and enjoy. Walk till you drop. Then stop for a snack and a drink. Repeat. Forget the tours and the guides waving flags to keep you up. Venice is a walking town, and literally around every corner is something to discover. Buy an all-day ticket for the Vaporetto (it runs to and from docks everywhere) and enjoy the ride. At some point in the trip, you’ll think you’re a bit player in the movie “The Talented Mr. Ripley.” When that thought strikes, immediately hop off the boat and head for the nearest bar for a Negroni. Now that’s being a Venetian.
Around dusk, the lights surrounding Piazza San Marco (the Heart of the city) come on, and it’s a spectacular sight. The square is enormous and surrounded on three sides by lovely, old buildings with shops and cafes on their ground level. Facing the square is the beautiful St Mark’s Basilica — and off to the side, the Campanile di San Marco, which towers over everything. It’s an incredible light show in an incredible town.
It doesn’t matter if you’re in Venice for a day or a week. It’s impossible to stay still. The sounds of Venice begin before dawn and continue until late in the evening. Whatever your interests are, there’s something here for you. I always, always hate to leave this magical city.
Are we there yet? 