When my sister took the Bar, she couldn’t wait to get out of town for a couple of weeks to celebrate! We decided on an excursion through Italy to Venice, Florence and Rome.

The city is a pedestrian only zone with the only form of public transportation being water taxis. When you arrive at the airport, you can take a couple of different options to get into the city: water taxi or combination of shuttle bus and water taxi. Both options can be arranged online or at the airport. Estimate around one hour travel time to the city center, depending on where your hotel is booked.

Piazza San Marco was our first stop in Venice to indulge in some fine Italian wine and ambiance. Venice is not a cheap city to visit so expect to either spend a lot of money or to do the city on a very tight budget. We decided to spend one night, two full days in this lovely city so we could spend a lot of money without breaking the bank for our trip.

    My sister used Rick Steves guide to choose our hotel in Venice and he did not disappoint! This quaint little B&B in the heart of the city had everything we needed and for a reasonable price. However, the one fault we could find was the shower was a community one shared by everyone on the floor. I do believe you can request rooms with a private bathroom so do not let that sway you from staying here!

With our hotel only seconds from the most famous bridge in Italy, we set off to admire the Rialto and all its splendors.

   This bridge might be a favorite place to people watch as there are so many different kinds of people who take to the steps every day. You see singles, lovers, families, friends, all who want to appreciate the structurally beautiful bridge and the breathtaking view that stands before them.

   

This one of those times where pictures do not do a place justice. It truly is one of the most magical places in the world and a must see if you travel in Italy. The bustling water taxis going from A to B in the first picture to the quieter, calmer Adriatic as the day ends in the second, leaves no surprise that it was home to a long list of artists and architects!

As the sun died down, we did what I aim to do in each city I visit: sit alongside the river, (because most all European cities have a river running through or around them!) indulge in a beverage of my choice, people watch and be thankful for where I am at that exact moment. These moments are always among my favorite on trips because it is my time to be still, not worry about where I need to be and just enjoy the people I am with and the city I am in.

 Having a glass of Prosecco with my sister, watching the sunset over the Adriatic is still, to this day, one of my favorite memories together.

My sister at Harry’s Bar .

Remember when I said Venice is expensive and you can either do the budget way or splurge on a good time? Keep that in mind as I go into detail on THE most amazing meal I have ever had. Harry’s Bar is located directly on the Adriatic and is host to some of the happiest people in the world; you’ll understand why when you indulge in their cuisine. With this being our first night in Italy, our first Italian meal, we had no idea we were setting the bar so high for the rest of the trip. Tired and jetlag, we venture to Harry’s in hopes of snagging a table without reservation. (Tip: We were extremely lucky in most restaurants, but do reserve a table when traveling in Europe. After later travel experiences, I learned it is extremely rude to venture in without one) We were received with open arms and a table; however, even with our “let’s splurge” attitude, we were not prepared for the many splendors and euros this place had to offer. Bucket list for my sister and me is going back to Harry’s for a proper dining experience with all the trimmings because trust me when I say, it is worth it!

 I had the seafood risotto pictured left and my sister had the tagliatelle bolognese as suggested by the waiter. I think our utensils were just as much in each other’s plates as they were in our own and there wasn’t a clear winner as to whose was the best. Not only was the food amazing, but the staff was just as incredible.

When asked if we wanted dessert, we looked at our money situation and with heavy hearts declined. To our sheer delight, he returned with a piece of chocolate cream pie and two forks for us to share, free of charge!

We devoured it before taking a picture

 Day two in Venice was spent in Doge’s Palace right off Piazza San Marco. You can book tickets in advance through the website and I strongly suggest you do. My sister booked our tickets before we came and it saved us quite a long queue to enter the palace. Once inside the palace, you can opt to take one of several special tours such as the Secret Doge’s Palace tour for a few extra euro–this is definitely worth it as you get to go inside rooms you would not see with the general admission ticket.

 Once inside, you will be subject to beautiful artwork, intricate and elaborate interior as well as a historical insight to life in Venice through the years.

My favorite spot was the Bridge of Sighs    named from the sound heard when prisoners walked to their cells. This view is the last glimpse of the outside world they saw before spending life in prison.

After Doge’s Palace, we found ourselves left with only a few hours until we needed to catch our train to Firenze. We ventured out for our last tourist attraction before our time in Venice came to an end.

When you think of Venice, a few key words come to mind. For me, it is gellato, water and gondollas! We agreed we couldn’t leave Venice without having experienced all three!

 For the record, my sister’s favorite is stragiatella and mine is pistachio! Now, on to the gondola!

Our gondolier was too much fun. He took us on a wonderful tour of the city where we saw Casanova’s apartment, Doge’s Palace and so many cute water canals! 

The ride was 50 euros for the two of us and it lasted around 45 minutes; again, a bit pricey but a wonderful experience! You can not purchase tickets online anywhere, simply pay the gondolier for the ride, sit back and enjoy!

 Our time in Venice came to a quick end but we absolutely loved our time there! To get to our next destination, we used the high speed rail system for quick, cheap transportation.