Jennica & Matthew Geddert's Ramblings

Sep 13 Venice by Jennica

We arrived in Venice at dawn, when the light is glowing pink on all the buildings and the water. What a beautiful way to arrive!

We trudged down cobble-stone streets to our hotel and tried to adjust to the absence of ambient motor noises. The loudest noises were the American and Canadian tourists exclaiming over their purchases and the occasional busking musician. Occasionally, we'd walk near the Grand Canal and hear the motors of the water-bus and water-taxis, but that was it.

We strolled and ate gelato, looking in the store windows at the glass works, leather goods, and paper-machet masks. One one level, the city feels like a huge suvenier shop, but since the quality of everything is high and most of what we saw was beautiful, one doesn't mind as much in normal tourist traps. With the world-famous Murano glass-works nearby, it seemed every hotel light fixture was a lovely chandelier. Venice is a true feast for the eyes and ears.

When we were looking for a literal feast, however, we were sadly disappointed. Throughout the city, and the whole country of Italy for that matter, we could not find good food for a reasonable price. Everything except the gelato was rather horrible. By the end of our time in Italy we were craving the good Italian food we get in North America.