Venice - My Candid Thoughts

My travels the past 5 weeks have actually made me a more pathetic blogger than I was before. I didn't know that was possible, but looks like it is! In my next few blog entries I'm going to go over the past month of travels and share some insights on places, culture, food and the likes. So let me start with my first adventure a little over a month ago to Venice.

I had been to Venice once before on a short weekend trip during my summer abroad in Florence. I went with a handful of other students and stayed in a hostel and basically just walked around. I remember only a few things about Venice from that trip. I recall that it I was constantly lost, that it smelled like still canal water and that it was beautiful. I also seem to remember some good Chinese food by the train station that helped to cure my hangover induced the night before by some rowdy Canadians. But that's irrelevant.

This trip to Venice, I had tickets to see James Taylor in Piazza San Marco, found a cute and affordable hotel just blocks away from the famous piazza and had a great travel companion. We hopped off the train and bought a map. Even with the thing unfolded and spread out in front of us while walking, we still managed to get incredibly lost. Our frustration was placated upon arriving at our hotel. A charming boutiquy spot located in a silent piazza. We checked in and found that the cheapest room we found online turned out to be quite the residence. It has a nice comfy bed, TV, A/C, huge closet and giant beautiful bathroom. I would highly recommend the Hotel La Fenice et Des Artistes for a budget-friendly, quality stay in Venice.

That evening we grabbed an aperitivo near the piazza and we very rudely treated by the waiters and definitely overcharged. And one of us was Italian! After the drink, we found our seats and caught James Taylor in the middle of a downpour. He was fantastic as always, even in the rain. After James we were again disappointed at our treatment and service at two different locations near the piazza. We were denied the use of a restroom (which is actually illegal in a public place like a bar or restaurant, just so you know) and then found a terrible and overpriced meal at a quiet little side street restaurant. We weren't very impressed with Venice at this point.

The next day we took the water taxi to the island of Murano where they make the famous Murano glass.  The water taxi took about 40 minutes each way and once on the island we were shoved around to different factories where they demonstrate the glass blowing process, etc. Again, not impressed. We headed back towards San Marco and happily made our way through the crowded streets back to the train station ready to leave Venice, both swearing that we were saying goodbye to Venice forever and would be satisfied to never go back.


Venice is beautiful, yes. And there is no other place in the world like it (apart from the Venetian in Vegas). However, in my eyes it is overpriced, crowded, confusing, full of unfriendly people and kinda stinky. I'm glad I have been there and seen it, but doubt I will ever make the trip back.

This is just one girl's two cents on Venice. My opinion really means nothing at all. Everyone's experiences are different. And I realize this isn't the rosiest of blogs I have given you, but it wasn't much of a rosy experience.