Wednesday, May 26, 2010

A City on Water

I wonder what comes to your mind when you read the above title! I am going to talk about our holiday to the beautiful world on water 'Venice'. Before I start!!!! I remember reading in Social Studies back in school that Cochin is called 'Venice of the East'....really??? I don't think so...it's nothing like it...I cannot imagine another place like this one! It's so very unique....

As always I was all excited about our Easter weekend trip to Venezia, Italy. We booked the flights, the hotel accommodation and by doing the research of finding a good deal, I felt I already know the sights and scenes of the city. Such is the world of Internet....

However, going there is definitely worth every penny...
I cannot quite put it up in words to illustrate what the experience was, so some snippets of what I remember the most and loved the most and recommend are seen below....

Travel by the Vaporetto's (Public Water transport), they are economical and the best way to go around the lagoon... We had a day pass and also got single tickets to do the rides. This makes you mingle with the locals and in the general day to day activities....

Definetly ride Line 1 of the Vaporetto - which takes you all along the Grand Canal (which is Yes!! Grand in it's own way).

Sip on Sweet Sparkling Wine at one of the many cafes by the Rialto Bridge

Visit the colorful island of Burano - famous for the lace work, the houses are so picture perfect on a sunny day.

Just Walk the many 'Calle's Venice has to offer.....this is most cherished.... as you walk by the alley ways, you end up getting to a square with houses, canals, bridges, universities, ristorante's, coffee shops, gondola stands..... - I do consider the sentence "Get Lost in Venice" an order, not a suggestion. ( I stole this sentence ;-)

Have the Gelato's from the many gelatarias around....it's really hard to choose from the many flavours they have to offer....

Never miss Pizza when in Italy...I guess they have managed to keep a few secrets of making the perfect Pizza to themselves...

If you have an extra day, take the train to the nearby city of Verona...the land of romeo & juliet and the famous amphitheatre...if you are there in the right season, you might also see the many vineyards during the journey....trust me... after a few days in the world of water...you would not mind civilization in the form of Roads, Railways and solid earth!

Well... Overall.. it was a very very different experience...its so beautiful that only an artist or a poet or a writer or may be a photographer can describe the place and definitely not me....I will upload a few pics... well..hopefully the pics do some justice to the place than the write up!