V for Venice

When I was living in Athens (many years ago) some friends and I decided to do a road trip to Italy. We took the ferry from Patras and arrived Brindisi early morning. The sun was just up and as we hit the roads and the landscape opened up in front of us I got this intense feeling of...  belonging. You know, one of these places on earth where you just feel like home the moment you arrive. Italy was that kind of place.

We visited Bologna, Florence and the mini state of San Marino on our trip, but the highlight for me was the one and only magic city of Venice.

Venice consists of 18 island and the whole city is listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The city is unique because of the canals going in between the houses. It is often threatened by flood tides pushing in from the Adriatic Ocean. Six hundred years ago, Venetians protected themselves from land-based attacks by diverting all the major rivers flowing into the lagoon and thus preventing sediment from filling the area around the city. This created an ever-deeper lagoon environment.

What I love about Venice ( and get ready for this one:) - is that it is the world's only pedestrian city. So No. Cars. Anywhere (!), something that makes strolling around sooo enjoyable. If you want to get around quicker, you can take the vaporettis (water buses) or the water taxis. If you go to Venice on a romantic trip or honeymoon (we were in neither categories), going for a gondola ride on the canals is a must. (but not advisable if you are an impatient non-romantic soul wanting to get from A to B as soon as possible)

When we went, we stayed close to Piazzo San Marco. I was enjoying the strolls in the narrow alleyways, and over the picturesque bridges crossing the canals, the art work and just sitting for a coffee at the large open squares (though really expensive coffee)  - watching the doves fly up. It was early spring, the weather was beautiful, and I was thinking to myself: yes, this feels right. This could be home.

Masks - the big carnival in Venice is in February. 

But just as I left Udaipur behind yesterday, the time to leave Venice behind, caught up with me back then also. I did leave.

And as sad as it may be, now it is our time to fly away from lovely Venice - our dream destination for the day. What? You don't want to leave? Come on, dear reader, I will take you with me to another place which I think you will find interesting.. Trust me. Pack your bags and get ready for W...

1-30 April I participate in the A to Z blogger challenge, and this post is written as a part of that challenge. Check out some amazing participating blogs here. My theme for the challenge is Dream Destinations. I hope you had fun coming along? Please stay tuned for a new destination tomorrow. 

Go to a-to-zchallenge.com