Venice might be sinking, but my memories will never drown of the beautiful Italian port city. Maybe I have an affinity for canals, but Venice and Amsterdam hold a special place in my heart.
On my first day in Venice, I settled in and took in the breathtaking views of the canals and the sea. The city is very picturesque, and full of tourists, but I was happy to find some hidden gems in my three days spent there.
It was incredible seeing the gondoliers – just like I imagined. Even though it was very touristic, I enjoyed seeing them paddle slowly along the azul waterways. I wore this polka-dot peplum dress from H&M after the three hour train ride from Florence.
My first hotel in Venice was very close to the Ponte Rialto. The bridge was so beautiful and full of great jewelry boutiques. Surprisingly, even though it was the largest tourist attraction in Venice, the Ponte Rialto had fair prices and a couple great shops, including Oreficeria Boscolo Gioie (Ponte di Rialto 7) where I purchased an enamel and silver ring for myself, and a matching pendant for my mother.
After exploring the city, we stumbled upon this cute restaurant where I ate an amazing full red snapper. The restaurant was in a square and children and dogs were playing with each other. It was great to see that locals do live in Venice and that there’s a community within commercial tourism.
