As we prepared to hop on the vaparetto for our ride along the Grand Canal, we were reminded that most of the big box tour groups and luxury cruise ships dock in Venice for the day, only to arrive at their international standard hotels 10 miles away for the evening. What a gift we were about to receive by staying in the heart of this island, ready to enjoy the best of nightlife that this city has to offer. For the next two nights, I transformed into a Venetian!
Our evening began with a stroll through St. Mark's Square, one of the most famous in all of the world. Once dropping off our bags at the most serene Hotel Serenissima, we headed for our Venetian feast of freshly caught seafood and regional wine. The tiramisu was by far the best I ever savored!
We soon found out that our tour guide arranged a surprise gondola ride through the floodlit canal, just as the sun begun to set. Our next hour was spent flowing through the water, sipping champagne and laughing with our fellow gondoliers. We ended out night along St. Mark's Square, enjoying the live classical music under the starlit sky.
Venice is hot, especially in July! I found that the best way to beat the heat is to spend the bright, sunlit days outside in quick 1 to 2 hour bursts. I spent my morning on a guided tour of the city with frequent stops in cafes and a live demonstration of Italian sculptor creating handmade masks. The experience was topped only by our passionate local tour guide who personified the entire event. By 11:00 that morning, we departed on our own for the remainder of the day to explore the magic of Venice.
I spent the rest of the afternoon between indoor and outdoor activities. After Doge's Palace, I walked through the narrow city streets fighting tourists left and right headed toward a pizzeria recommended by a local Venetian I met that day. Catching up on writing my family at our indoor hotel was a well needed refuge before heading out again hours later. Between gelati that melted faster than I can say "formaggio" and tacky salespeople pitching fake Murano glass and Saint Mark statuettes; I had to remind myself that the magic of the city in its nightlife is only a few hours (and a few blocks) away.
Eager to take a nighttime vaparetto ride up and down the entire canal, I began to wander the narrow streets looking for a place to enter. Shortly after, I realized that meeting more of the local people would make for a better memories and a more fun experience. I will make a night cruise a priority during my next time in Venice.
I soon after begun to get even further lost in my adventure to savor the best of the Venice. Eventually, I stumbled upon an outdoor wine bar where local soccer fans were cheering for the Italian team. Joining the fun, I spent my next hour blending in with the community eating pizza topped with any seafood I chose. I felt at home laughing with new friends who were elated to hear that I choose their city as a temporary home. I was even offered the "reserve wine" that was off the menu and only available for those in the know.
I woke up very early on our final morning to walk along St. Mark's Square as well as some more side streets along the water. What a world of difference a few hours make. At 6:00, there was peace and tranquility. Having breakfast along the water just a few streets away was my reward for waking up so early. By 9:00, the area turned into a bombardment of people ready to spend their precious time and money on the same food and souvenirs they can probably buy at their hometown. If only they knew that the key to enjoying this gem of an island is to be here at the early hours at sunrise and when the sun is just about to set. All of which just a little bit off the tourist path.
With our final morning canal ride back to the motor coach just an hour away, I headed toward the hotel for my backpack and bid a final farewell to the Queen of the Adriatic Sea, and prepared for our vacation away from our vacation. By the afternoon, we will be bathing under the Tuscan sun.