Next, we were off to Venice by train. This 5-day trip to Italy was really just a case of making use of layovers. To get from Morocco to Istanbul, we had to fly through Europe somewhere. Milan happened to be one of the cheapest options (thank you, RyanAir), and Venice is just a short train ride away. Since I’ve always wanted to see Venice, it seemed a good opportunity – so we took it.
Venice is unlike any other city, with transport only by foot or boat. It’s made up of 118 islands separated by canals and connected by bridges. The entire city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
I just find the idea of Venice and the look and feel of it romantic. I didn’t feel the need necessarily to do or see anything, in particular, just to wander and get lost in it. And that’s what we did for 3 days.
The weather was a little dreary, but the city was bustling. There is a lot of shopping to be done here, lots of Italian leather goods, Venetian glass, and clothes, and being the week before Christmas, things were busy.
One of the best parts of Italy is the food and wine. Our favorite places for inexpensive, tasty food were Alfredo’s Fresh Pasta and Antico Forno. At Alfredo’s, you could get fresh pasta for 6 euros, but there are only a few seats. We got to sit both times we visited, but you need to be ready to stand. At Antico Forno, you could get delicious pizza slices for 2.50 euros. They were pretty busy, so the chance to get a slice of a pie right out of the oven was quite good.
I’ve had people tell me that they think Venice is overrated, but I disagree. I loved it for the character that comes from the canals and hundreds of little alleys. Even when it is crowded on the main streets, there are plenty of out-of-the-way places to get away and wander. It won’t take long to find yourself alone. I do think Venice is an inherently romantic place. There is just something about it that makes you feel like there are treasures to be discovered around every corner. This city offers you so many moments with romantic potential its hard to ignore.
