The Enchantment of Venice

After a wonderful first week by the lake, the girls and I whisked one another away on a romantic weekend to Venice, the city of love. 

Though our fairytale didn't have the most magical of beginnings (alarms set for five o'clock to catch a six o'clock train) the journey ran very smoothly and we were in Venice within just three hours. We stopped quickly in Mestre to drop our bags at the apartment and then jumped back on the train to the centre of town. 

As we approached the island our eyes were glued to the windows, watching intently as the city faded into focus. Though Venice stands isolated from the rest of Italy, it's separated only by a narrow stretch of sea which takes less than ten minutes to cross by train. However, this small distance represents all kinds of boundaries and as we stepped outside the station, it felt as though we'd entered a new realm entirely. 

It took a moment for my eyes to adjust to the scene in front of me. The city was absolutely bustling with people but many appeared to be gliding through the crowds whilst others watched on in wonder. These fortunate few were travelling by boat, taking the grand canal to their next destination. Quite possibly, they were going nowhere in particular; when passing through the streets of Venice, the enjoyment is in the journey itself. 

We discovered the same by foot, as we wandered in and out of the narrow alleys, over small bridges and into the squares. Wherever we ventured, we were never too far from the faint echo of a gondola singer serenading those in love. In the back streets, we found some beautiful places which are yet to be overcome by tourists. Though the people were few, we were not alone for the streets are filled with the faces of Venetian masks. Every kind of character exists here, from the hysterical joker, to the distraught damsel, each one brought to life with with incredible expression. Regardless of their emotion, they draw you in with enchanting colours and carnivalesque decorations, a distraction to hide what's behind the eyes. 

Having woken so early we were beginning to waiver and so sought out a cafe for a mid morning pick me up; cake accompanied by a glass of Prosecco! Whilst I'd assumed that Venice would be crazy expensive, it only set us back by a couple of euros. It was whilst we continued to find reasonably priced restaurants that we made the unconscious decision to eat all day. 

It will come as no surprise then, that the next item on our agenda was finding somewhere for lunch. For this, we crossed back over the bridge and into the busier side of town, eventually settling on a typical Italian restaurant just off the main road. I chose a light option to leave more room for later though soon regretted it as the wine went straight to my head. By the time we set off again, I was feeling pretty wobbly; one more glass and those masks may have really come to life. 

Our intention was to head towards San Marco Square but just as we were nearing it, Kate noticed her purse had been stolen. Unfortunately, Venice is known for its pick pockets and so we weren't the least bit surprised but still very sad! We took a small detour to the city's police station, though for insurance purposes only as we knew we'd never get it back. 

For an instant fix, there was only one thing for it; Venetian ice cream and more wine! Holding our bags tight, we meandered back through the streets and found a tavern which served Prosecco by the litre. An hour later, we were all more cheerful and so reattempted San Marco Square. Perhaps it was because the place was a little tainted, or perhaps it was the construction work obstructing our view of the Basilica, but we weren't particularly blown away. The same goes for the Rialto Bridge which is another must-see on the tourist's list. It's been said that in Venice, getting lost is the only place worth going to and I must say I found this to be very true; I was far more fascinated by the quaint little places we stumbled upon by chance. 

Our day in Venice was almost over and after dinner, Amie decided that even we, the least touristy of tourists, could not leave without a souvenir. Whilst we were admiring the boats passing on the canal, lit up now whilst the rest of Venice had fallen into darkness, she snuck off into the glittery shops. When she returned, she was armed with a whole handful of mini masks which she made us promise we'd treasure forever. It's charming but even without this little gem, I would never forget such a wonderful weekend in the bizarre and beautiful city of love.