The Sinking City

We arrived in Marco Polo International Airport in Venice around 10:45 p.m. on Oct. 1, 2018. Our arrival was reminiscent of our home in Vancouver, Canada, mainly because the temperature was 12 degrees and it was raining. We were freezing, coming from Tenerifé where we enjoyed temperatures of 28-30 degrees.

We didn't get to our temporary residence in San Marco at the main island till the next day, as the trip from the airport to the city centre would take more than 2 hours with a combination of walking and taking the Vaporetto. Approaching the main island of Venice from the Vaporetto, I could see how the city has captivated and inspired many. The architecture, the walkways, the bridges, and the ocean that encapsulated the city. It was simply breathtaking.

Staying in San Marco enabled us to see most of the sights in our 4 day trip, along with the neighbouring islands of Murano and Burano. I felt like I was walking in a dream the whole time we were there. Ever since I watched a documentary about the "sinking city" during my teens, I vowed to visit before the city was completely engulfed by the ocean (as I believed it would happen back then). The fact that we were actually walking the streets of Venice seemed surreal. Some of our favourite activities were: enjoying Piazza San Marco all to ourselves during sunrise; watching the sunset in Ponte Dell'Accademia; and taking a gondola ride around the Grand Canal and the waterways throughout the city just before sunset.

Be forewarned, though, the beauty of Venice comes at a high price and we learned very quickly to be wise with our money. Most of the cafés and restaurants charge a service fee when you sit at a table. We knew this coming along, however, we did not know how high these service fees were in some of the venues. For example, we had dinner at a restaurant one evening and ordered a €7 pizza. The service fee ended up costing us €10 extra. Additionally, the hotels, airbnbs, etc. charge a city tax per night of accomodation for each person. The "higher class" the hotel is considered, the more city tax will be charged to each individual. Having said that, we enjoyed many "take away" meals sitting on a bench somewhere in the city overlooking the Grand Canal, drinking a glass of Prosecco or Bellini. Ordering take away means one does not have to pay the service fee that cafés and restaurants charge when you sit in their chairs.

We felt that 4 days is sufficient in Venice, particularly since we stayed in the main core of San Marco. Most of the famous sites were close and one could view them all in a day. After a whirlwind in the city, we brace ourselves for another whirlwind as we prepare to explore Rome next.