Getting Lost in Venice | Part 1

Monday, September 25, 2017

We drove from Munich, Germany to Venice, Italy, which took us about five and a half hours, and took us through Austria. In some parts of the US, five and a half hours gets you to another part of one state. Someday we'll live in Europe and road-trip to a new country every weekend... 

Renting a car is usually our favorite way to travel, but of course there are no cars in Venice. We left our rental car on the mainland and took a bus to Venice (there is a bridge that connects mainland Italy to the islands), then a water bus to the island where our hotel was. By the time we arrived and found our hotel without internet, it was around midnight and we were starving. Our first meal in Italy? Pizza at an empty hole-in-the wall spot run by an Asian couple, the only thing open at that time.  We got our pizzas to go and ate them in our wooden-boat themed hotel room, happy to have found something to make up for our missed dinner (and it's pizza, so you really can't complain). 

While planning our trip to Italy, a few of our friends said to not even bother going to Venice! We were shocked by that advice, since it's such a quintessential Italian city in such a unique setting. We heard over and over that Venice is extremely touristy and extremely over-priced, that nobody actually lives there anymore but just come to the island to work in the tourist playground. I actually don't know how true that is, but it was indeed very touristy and the first place we saw how infiltrated Italy is with selfie sticks (and we visited in April, the very beginning of peak season). However, if you go away from the main square and the canals with gondolas for hire, it's actually really easy to find yourself all alone in a maze of narrow streets that make no sense, up and over canals on little foot bridges, and sometimes end up at a dead end at the water's edge. There's something about tightly stacked colorful, worn buildings and water that make a city so darn charming and a photographer's paradise (it reminded us a bit of Havana, Cuba in that way). We had no regrets about coming to Venice. But then again, it was on the way for us, coming from north of Italy, and can be a bit out of the way if you're flying into Rome.

Even though we were in Venice for a day and a half, we have sooo many photos. We have another long post from Venice coming up, with a few suggestions of what to see.  

- Julia & Yuriy

P.S. Today is our 7 year wedding anniversary, and roughly 7 years since we started this blog(!) when we traveled around the world for 6 months... that was fast. If you're reading, when did you first discover our blog? Way back when during our honeymoon travels or more recently? 







17 comments :

  1. Been following since the first 6 month trip. Love seeing photos of new places. I especially like your attitude towards exploring places that are a bit off the beaten path.

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    1. Crazy! So long ago. Back when everyone blogged too... :) Haha... Venice is def not off the beaten path but there's a time for both kinds of travel! Thanks for the comment.

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  2. SO BEAUTIFUL! I will be there in a couple of weeks for my honeymoon, any food recommendations? Also were your pictures taken on an iPhone? I have a DSLR but it’s heavy, love photography! // thanks for sharing.

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    1. Hi!!! same happens to me so recently I got my hands on a Canon G5 X that has a nice quality and also a viewfinder. Maybe you could check this option :)

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    2. Congrats on your wedding! We were only there for one full day and ate breakfast at our hotel so we didn't get to eat much. Sorry not much help there. Hope you have an amazing honeymoon.

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  3. Happy Anniversary!

    I started reading from the Salt Flat posts and I really like the way you guys tell your travel stories. Every time when your new post shows up on my feed I get excited. Looking forward to more posts! :)

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    1. Oh awesome. That one time we got our camera and photos stolen... tragic, but thank goodness for iPhone photos! Thanks for sharing!

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  4. Been reading The blog from
    The very beginning! As for Venice, I don't know why you were told not to even bother, it's such a fun place to visit. The first time I went was with natasha Vitruk, when we were beraly 20, before AirBnB's and all the super helpful travel apps and we seriously had such a blast. Maybe it was because we were just winging it and just went with flow. I do remember the main attractions were beyond packed but the rest of the islands were fun to explore. Love the photos btw.

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    1. And we have loved getting your sweet comments since the beginning! I think some friends said to skip it because there is so much else to see in Italy that is perhaps more authentic and less catered to tourists. But I agree... the areas away from the main attractions were not bad at all and so fun to explore.

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  5. Happy Anniversary!

    I discovered your blog last year (I think - not that long ago anyway), love all your gorgeous photos. Your blog helps me add to my ever expanding list of places to visit :)

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    1. Hey Vickie! Oh awesome! I assume everyone who reads started reading way long ago when blogs were more popular. Thanks for saying hi!

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  6. Lovely photos! I will be traveling next november, so I'm looking forward your tips! thanks for sharing

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  7. Love your beautiful photos and I'm glad you're continuing to blog your past travels :) I discovered your blog shortly after your honeymoon and I've been following you both via here and on IG ever since!

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  8. I was actually planning to go to Venice sometime next year, but it seems like I will opt for other places instead -- not because of what many people said about how Venice has become very touristy, though.

    By the way, happy anniversary! As for your question, I've been following this blog since you two got married and embarked on a round-the-world trip. I've been enjoying every single post!

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  9. Hi! I started reading roughly in the middle of your honeymoon travels. I can't remember now how I've found it, but I instantly fell in love with it :). I was sooo upset when the posting frequency fell down, but then I dicovered your Instagrams ;). Anyway, your blog made me swear to myself that if ever I'll get married, I'll ask for money for travels and not wedding gifts - and next year I'll fullfill this vow :D. Yay!

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