Venice is a fantastic place. As most people know there are no cars there, only boats which maneuver narrow waterways that wind through the city. If you don’t like boats, you can walk through a maze of alleys that twist and turn in such a way that the simplest sojourn becomes an adventure. The colors of the buildings coupled with wonderful light make Venice a photographer’s dream place. The city, which is the birthplace of Vivaldi, has wonderful restaurants, shops, and music.
People complain of crowds and heat in the summer. Walk twenty minutes from St. Mark’s Square in any direction, and you’ll be alone. Or take a boat to another island and enjoy cool breezes and few people. Stay in a hotel that has air conditioning and take frequent “cool down” beaks, if the heat and humidity get to be too much.Gelatto and ice cold mineral water will also take the edge off the heat.
The best boats to take are the government taxis which are inexpensive and reliable. One must be careful of some of the private boat taxis whose owners specialize in ripping off unsuspecting tourists. The Gondola men are very colorful, but they charge eighty dollars a ride. You can probably enjoy them as much from the numerous bridges that span the canals as you can from riding in their vessels. Gondola women seem to be non existent.Venice is very accessible from other parts of Italy by train, car, or plane. Driving in Italy is sport for the locals, so rent at least six cylinders, if you don’t want to be eaten for lunch by the big Audi Quartos and Alpha Romeos the Italians so love. Trains are a good way to go as the stations tend to be in central locations, and you see the countryside in transit.
They say Venice is sinking, so you probably want to go there sooner than later. It is one of the world’s most remarkable places. As you listen to the gentle sound of waves by the Grand Canal, while eating Pasta Pescatore and sipping Chianti Classico in the fading, afternoon light, you may not be in paradise, but you are close.
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