Venice Italy

Venice was a mixed bag, beautiful, chaotic, and unforgettable. After a smooth train ride from Sirmione, things took a wild turn when we arrived at Venezia Santa Lucia station. The water taxi was crowded but manageable; the real adventure began once we got off. With barely any cell service and an unreliable GPS, we wandered through crowds, climbed endless staircases, and crossed countless canals, all while dragging our increasingly heavy suitcases. Turns out, we’d arrived just before Liberation Day and Venice was packed.

Eventually, we made it to our charming villa right on the canal. Gondolas glided past the windows, and some of our stress instantly melted away. We swore then and there that we’d book private transport for the trip out, no matter the cost. That evening, we dove into Venice’s culinary magic: spritzes and cicchetti followed by lobster pasta, local white wine, and tiramisu.

Our stay was perfectly slow-paced. Mornings included brunch in the villa, Prosecco on the patio, and Bocelli on repeat as we watched gondoliers pass…….even in the rain. We wandered into bookstores like Libreria Acqua Alta, admired Venetian legends like the “brick heart,” and braved the crowds at the Rialto Bridge, where we rewarded ourselves with rooftop wine and people-watching.

We allowed ourselves grace not to feel guilty about an over packed itinerary and embraced il dolce far niente, the sweetness of doing nothing, strolling the markets, chatting with the local cheesemonger, and cooking in our cozy villa.

Venice may not have stolen my heart, but by the end, it quietly earned a piece of it.