A DAY in Venice
Venice - the majestic floating city of love covering a hundred or so small islands webbed in a dense canal network that even Google has trouble navigating. I'm serious - do not be fooled by the indicated transit times (pedestrian or water bound) as they have little to do with the hectic reality of Venetian traffic. A water ride indicated as 20 minutes took an hour and the 5-minute walk to the Rialto bridge was an extremely crowded blur of half an hour or so which left me with the clear feeling I was gasping for air most of the time. Once you get used to Venetian reality and space, it gets quite fun. If there is no way you can reach your destination in the time you thought, why not just crash for a divine espresso macchiato in a cute corner somewhere? Cafés, restaurants and delicacy shops are waiting to give you a taste of your favourite Italian carbohydrate indulgences - pizza, pasta, risotto, cannoli, torrone, you name it. And the espressos really are divine and very enjoyable as long as you are not having the 15-euro Piazza San Marco version which definitely pushes the boundaries on European location-based pricing. Beautiful in architecture, gorgeous views and tiny details, vibrant with social life, art and history, Venice is a treat for all the senses which cannot be experienced in just a day. Stay longer!
