Wandering Venice - Canals, Gondolas and Cicchetti
Wandering the narrow streets and alleyways of Venice is the best way to discover the true beauty of this amazing city. If you haven't been...go. If you have been...go again. There is no place like it in the world.
Echos of the past, realities of the present and an uncertain future. Venice, Italy...118 islands and 150 canals and 400 bridges and gondolas and vaporettos and water taxis and no cars. You are going to walk a lot and you are going to get lost a lot but that's a good thing. Just let yourself wander. Stand on a bridge and watch the gondolas go by. Wait outside a church for the bride and groom. Stop in a cicchetti bar, one of my favorite Venetian traditions. They are little sanctuaries, all over the city, where you can have a tiny snack and a chilled glass of wine. And, at least one day, get up before sunrise and have St. Mark's Square all to yourself. During the day this area is crowded with tourists. So, even if, like me, you really hate getting up early, it is worth it. And the morning light is beautiful. The Regatta Storica has been taking place on the banks of the Grand Canal since the mid 13th century. It celebrates Venice's glorious maritime history. It begins with a parade of traditional colorful boats, followed by a series of races.The canal banks are crowded with Venetians, cheering for their favorite team. I really felt a part of the local scene. The Rialto Bridge is crowded with tourists. So, I expected the Rialto market to have more souvenirs than seafood. I was wrong. The fishmonger stalls were loaded. The shrimp were still wiggling. The tuna steak were thick and shiny. Plus there was stall after stall of fresh produce. And, no matter what time it is, do like the locals and celebrate your shopping spree with a cold prosecco. Step into St. Mark's basilica and you will step back 1000 years into Venetian history. Looking around this opulent cathedral, it is easy to imagine Venice as the world power it once was...it's really nice and cool inside. Known around the world for it's glass making, Murano is a short vaporetto ride from Venice. It's so peaceful and pretty you may be tempted to skip the glass factory, just stroll around and have lunch but don't. If you are lucky, maybe you will walk in just as a big tour group is leaving and have a private show with the glass master. With a series of twists, turns, tugs and snips, he transforms a glowing, molten blob into a colorful keepsake. Walk away from the plazas overflowing with tour groups and keep walking until the only sound you hear is your own footsteps. This could be Venice 500 years ago and it could be Venice 500 years from now. Except the water is rising and Venice is sinking.