Venezia: the floating city
It’s as beautiful as everyone makes it to be. It was so cool and refreshing to be surrounded by water and sunshine instead of dust and exhaust. The city was everything I dreamed Italy to be - warm colored buildings with laundry hanging out to dry, colorful markets with fresh produce and Venice’s signature masks, glass art from Murano, live music, and gelato EVERYWHERE. This, along with Cinque Terre, were my favorite places to visit in Italy and I’d love to come back in the future.
And yes. Gondola rides at sunset are highly recommended after being on your feet all day.
6/19/11 Day 17: Venice and adventure to the Island of Glass (Murano)
- Nutella & bread for breakfast
- Seeing the city on water - no cars, just pedestrians and boats
- All the fun shops and stands with SHINY things!
- Tiramisu gelato in Italy :3
- Visiting Murano to see a glass blowing demonstration and all the art & jewelry
- Finding a glass heart wine stopper for Sissy
- Finding earrings for Ma
- Eating cheese & crackers by the curb
- The most relaxing and enchanting gondola ride in the evening w/o the bustle of tourists
- Finding a taxi while we were stranded on the side of the dark road after the bus stopped running
- OMFG CLEAN LAUNDRY
- Giant jar of Nutella & breadsticks = Pocky for backpackers
6/20/11 Day 18: Venezia to Riomaggiore
- Peach tea & chocolate croissants from the supermarket
- Big ass thing of tea for €0.69
- Seeing the old district where merchants did business
- Visiting the gheto of Venetian Jews
- Roomie & Snail chipping in for my blueberry yogurt :3
- Making all the right train transfers to Riomaggiore
- Seeing the ocean from the train <3
- The small, beautiful town of Riomaggiore (our first stop in Cinque Terre)
- Catching the hostel owner before reception closed!
- Being upgraded from a 6-bed dorm to a private triple!
- Not falling up or down the deadly steep stairs
- Pizza at the beach and watching the sunset
- Feeling so relaxed by the ocean
- Having time and energy for a really good prayer
