Another beautiful evening in Venice, at the foot of the Rialto Bridge.
The cities in Europe come in all shapes and sizes... each with their own 'vibe' or charm. While some cities immediately hit you (such as Rome or London) - others take a little longer to figure out... such is Venice.
Whether you have been there or not, I think everyone has a preconceived notion about Venice and all its 'iconic' images - the canals, the gondolas, the buildings. But to be there, in the flesh, and to feel your way around it is quite a cool experience. For unlike the cities mentioned above, Venice doesn't overwhelm you... it quietly seduces.
The closest thing to a traffic jam in Venice.
Our two days in Venice were absolutely amazing. Unlike all the other cites we have traveled to, we didn't have a set itinerary or list of 'MUST DO' attractions. We were not rushing off to churches, although St. Mark's is there. We were not lining up at art galleries, yet the Academia and Peggy Guggenheim Museum are both respected around the world. Here in Venice, the city itself is the attraction... and its quiet canals are its most interesting exhibits.
Gondolas ready for action on the Grand Canal.
Even the walls in Venice are interesting. I loved their rich colors and textures.
The iconic Gondolier.
Instead, we spent our time meandering down back alleys without a map. Sitting lazily at cafes and patios for an entire afternoon... just slowing our pace to match that of the locals. For where else could you find a city of over 60,000 (in its historic core) functioning smoothly without a single car? Even Fed-Ex has boats - which is very cool to me.
Some do not succumb to Venice's charm - both Brandon and Matt (who we met up with at the end of our time there) did not feel the same way as Christie and I did. They had just come from a whirlwind tour of Switzerland and Florence, so they were burnt out of historical sights. Maybe you need to be there with your 'significant other' - Venice is a city built around romance. Or maybe perhaps you just need to slow down enough and not expect it to blow you away... instead, like the Gondoliers casually making their way through the canal, just let it be what it is and enjoy it for that... for to have a true picture of Italy, I think you need to see Venice just as much as you need to see Rome, Milan, the Amalfi Coast, and Sicily.
Using the walls for leverage is a common technique.
Don't let the stripes fool you - these guys are INTENSE!
San Marco (St. Mark's) square at night, refreshingly vacant of tourists.
A quiet canalside trattoria.
The Doge's Palace - home and government building for Venice's rulers for over 800 years (and the inspiration for the Venetian Las Vegas exterior!)
~ J. Twice
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