Venice

Our first stop in Italy, was the island city of Venice. We found it beautiful and charming, but different than we expected. Unlike other famous European cities, where you have a list of famous attractions to see during your stay, the biggest attraction in Venice is the city itself. Spread out over more that 100 small islands and connected by bridges, the city is completely unique. The two modes of transportation are boat and your feet, and it is the only city where you will not see a single car or bicycle on the road. The roads are built around this, and are narrow labyrinths that open into large piazzos. Even with the best map and a great sense of dirrection it is easy to find yourself lost or simply at a dead end, and you have to retrace your steps to get back on track. It gives the city a unique feeling; the thought that something dark and mysterious is lurking around the next corner. The masquerade masks that the city is famous for are on display everywhere and only add to this feeling. It also gives the feeling that the city is not real, and it something set aside for tourist. Most locals seem to live off of the main island, and while winding through the narrow alleys gives you a feeling of adventure the only things you see are souvenir shops and restaurants, no traces of the real world outside. St. Marks Square is so crowded with tourists that it is forbidden to sit there; the citys effort to prevent loitering. Fortunately, we chose to stay on the small island of Lido, a short boat trip from the main island. It was a refreshing view of local life, and we very much enjoyed the sights, sounds, and tastes of this island. Known for its beaches, we walked along the shores of Lido eating our gelato and stepped foot on the shores of the Mediterranian for the first time.

From Venice