Venice Spring Fling

Welcome to Venezia!! 

Venice was amazingly beautiful. Like a shy girl trying to burst her true color. It was quite expressing Venice in spring.

Venice was that dream you never want to wake from. Every corner you turn, you walk deeper into some real-life watercolor that a camera can never do justice. It's like no place else I've ever seen. Well, it's like Bruges - in the larger form, but more beautiful with a canal everywhere and a little alleys that make you lost for several times in Venezia.

Venice has and always will be a very popular stop for tourist in Italy. You really can see a lot of it in just one day and that I did.

We arrived in the evening by train from Milan, had a late dinner, spent the night in the romantic and gorgeous Air B&B owned by an Italian artist. When I saw the review and the photo gallery in the booking.com, I just expected a bed with affordable price, yet when I arrived there it was over my expectation. 

every corner in this house is designed by an Italian artist, so here it is

IT WAS BEYOND I HAVE EXPECTED FOR A EUR 40 ROOM A NIGHT IN VENEZIA MESTRE OMG!

So, the next day what to do in Venice, Italy?

1. Rialto Bridge

The oldest bridge on the Grand Canal and is one of the famous picture taking spots in Venice. There are little tourist shops all across the bridge. I don't care much for the tourist shop, but it's a fun place to take some pictures and get a great view of the canal. You will also see and probably go under this bridge if you take a vaporetto (taxi boat in Venezia) to a Grand Canal.

2. Gondola Ride Water Taxi

I have a confession to make but ultimately we didn't take a gondola ride. Before you judge, let me explain why! One of the main reasons we decided not to was because even though we had a few blue skies throughout our stay, it was quite cold and really wind and rainy as well. I felt like we'd basically be paying €100 to sit and freeze on the water for 45 minutes. However, I don't regret my decision, but if the weather is good and you don't mind paying for the once-in-a-lifetime gondola ride, so take your chance. I'm sure it is as magical as it looks.

3. Saint Mark Basilica

Probabaly one of the most popular tourist stops in Venice, and it is a must. The architecture alone is enough to go and just stare at, but even better, you can go inside! Oh and did I mention? it is FREE! We love when we get to do cool stuff for free hehehe.

There was a small line, but it only took us about 5 minutes to get inside, so don't let the line scare you away.

4. St. Mark Basilica (Piazza San Marco)

It really is a breathtaking scene. Take time to stop and admire the architecture and enjoy some people watching. No matter what time of the year, this place will be bustling with tourist, so if you don't like large crowds you may need to hurry through this one, but it's definitely worth a stop.

Not going to lie, the sun was out but it was freezing this particular morning! I am glad we were prepared a raincoat with a Nike shoes. You should at least bring your sneakers, be prepared to walk a lot in Venezia. We went in end of March and it was still quite freezing after winter yet the sun is still out so it was warm a bit. But please make sure to check the weather application on your phone. Nothing is worse than going out for the day in a new place, ready to see million things and then having it ruined by being too cold.

5. Burano Island

This is the highlight of my day trip in Venezia. Ever seen colorful buildings and flowerpots in Venice? Those aren't from the main island of Venice, but Burano. 

Burano is a true fisherman's island. Fishing boats come in the end of the day with their catch, local women peer over their flowers boxes or lace making.

Go to Burano in the sunny day. The color will be bright at its best.

Beyond lace making and fishing, what makes Burano different from the rest of the sorrounding islands is its rainbow of colored houses. Years ago, fisherman painted their houses bright colors so that when they came home in the fog, they could know whose house was whose. The colors of these houses have been in families for centuries, and if you want to change the color of your house, you have to send in a request to the government. If you want to buy a house on the island.. good luck with that.

But as one local told us, this is changing. It's tough to live in Burano, not only is the island isolated (it is a half-hour trip from island of Venice by boat) but it suffers from severe acqua alta, or flooding each winter. For more opportunity and conveniences, many members of Burano's new generations are moving.

6. Just Strolling around, Get Lost and Eat Gelato!

It's literally a maze of canals and small streets, whimsical bridges, and colorful buildings. And as with all mazes, you should prepare yourself lost a time or two. 

It's kinda surreal, but lovely..

Getting lost is most tourists’ worst nightmare. But sometimes the only way to really experience the place you are visiting is to let go of all sense of direction and all lists, and just go where you feet take you.

Keep Calm and Carry On. 

Eat Gelatto or Pasta!

The best lasagna in town