I had no idea where my calling was to go to after my Croatia trip and then I heard from my yoga teacher, Barbara, who invited me to Zurich. Who can say no to Zurich?
So, I decided to go there. During my airline ticket search, I noticed that it was way cheaper to fly to Venice from Split, and then take the train or bus from there to Zurich.
This is how I ended up staying in Venice for two days. Luckily, I was able to find a room to rent on Airbnb in Venice within my budget.
I was super excited to visit Venice again after being there in 2008. I had fond memories of being in this magical city where I had met Danya in the Piazza while feeding the birds, getting lost in the narrow streets and discovered the art of running around the city early morning when everyone is sleeping, which I love to do when I visit a new city.
Day 1 in Venice was about getting soaked in the rain. It rained non-stop but I didn’t care because, after all, I was in Venice, the city of romantic canals and poetic gondola rides. The beauty about a rainy day in Venice meant there were less tourists out and about.
I was staying in the Ghetto neighborhood by the waterfront. It was not smack in the center which was good because it was much quieter and free from crazy tourists. After checking in my apartment, I stopped at a cute cafe in the Ghetto area and had Spritz Campari with tapas while enjoying the canal view. Once it started to pour, I moved indoors and spent some time watching people pass by and ended up chatting with an older couple from England.
It didn’t seem like that it would stop raining anytime soon, so I headed towards San Marco Square by using the hand painted markers on the street walls, which I knew were not reliable, but I was open to the idea of getting lost and discovering cool places.
After navigating through various twists and turns, I finally ended up in the square. It was the same I had left it a decade ago. What has changed in Venice is that the number of local boutiques has dwindled and in its place the high end big name retailers have taken over, which is such a disappointment. I have noticed this to be the case in most of the cities in Europe.
Thank God the architecture, canals and gondolas, what Venice is known for has remained intact.
After spending some time in the San Marco Square while enjoying my gelato under the covered arches listening to the pianist and the rain drops was a soothing experience for my wandering mind.
Tucked on the corner of a narrow street, I found a simple restaurant, where I had a spaghetti dinner, which was nothing to rave about. I had forgotten to pay attention to the tiny letters on the bottom of the outdoor, which states that there is a cover charge and service tax, which will be added to the final menu.
But later in the evening I found a cute cafe by the Opera House to have a cup of hot chocolate and biscotti to keep myself warm. Since I was sitting in the bar area there was no cover charge. I enjoyed watching people all dressed up for an Opera show. Only in Italy, you can stay as long as you want at a cafe, while having just an espresso or a glass of vino.
I decided to head back home and sleep early because my shoes were soaking wet and tomorrow’s forecast was sunny, which meant a long day of exploration.
Sadly, as I went to sleep, the uncomfortable metal bed frame with spring base, caved in the middle and made it so hard to sleep. That’s a risk of staying in an Airbnb, you never know what to expect, even after reading reviews. Since no hotels were available during my last minute plan, I had opted for this place because it was in the city. After being grumpy and annoyed, I fell asleep. Must be due to the long exhausting wet day.
Day 2, I woke up at 6am with a sore back. As I looked outside the window, I noticed that there was not a speck of rain in sight. I grabbed my yoga mat and went to do yoga by the waterfront while the sun was rising. This is exactly what I needed for my stiff back and sore legs.
After having a hot shower, I made a cup of hot tea and had the pistachio torte, which I had picked up from a bakery last night on the way back to the apartment.
My plan was to head to the Rialto Bridge, San Marco Square and Cathedral, and have lunch by one of the canals.
Rialto Bridge –
St. Mark’s Basilica –
Companile Belltower –
Doge’s Palace –
San Marco Square –
Pesto Spaghetti Lunch by the Canal –
Streets of Venice –
Around 1pm, I hopped on the ferry, and got to Burano. A friend had recommended that I go to Burano to checkout the colorful fisherman houses.
Also, Burano is famous for it’s intricate lace work. I got to meet the local women who were creating the laces, while enjoying the sun and gossiping. It’s a time consuming process and takes months to create the beautiful laces, that’s the reason Burano laces aren’t cheap.
Walking through the colorful houses was like being in Charlie’s Chocolate Factory, I was in awe and excited like a little kid.
The houses were painted in vivid colors so that the fishermen can find their way back home in the fog. Being able to see their village in spite of bad weather was the motivating factor and now this island is so special because of these houses. Each house definitely has its own personality. The reflection of the sun adds so much more drama. When I visit Italy again, Burano is definitely going to be the place I would like to stay for few days instead of a quick day trip like today.
In the evening, took the ferry back to Venice while admiring the view of small island villages.
After landing in Venice, I was a bit hungry, so walked around until I found “Combo,” a super cool courtyard restaurant in a modern and hip hostel. Had a delicious Cous Cous meal with Spritz.
After dinner I wandered through Venice and headed back to my apartment to pack my stuff and have everything ready for the next day since I was taking the early morning train to Milano.
