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10 Memories of Venice That Make Me Happy

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Though it has been awhile since I’ve visited the magical city of Venice, I was reminiscing the other day about the many wonderful things I loved and experienced there.

Venice will always hold a special place in my heart for being the first city in Italy I set foot. One could say that Venice is partially responsible for my falling in love with Italy. It certainly started the ball rolling. I remember that magical moment as I caught my first glimpse of the Piazza San Marco in Venice from the Alilaguna as it sailed along the jade waters, on a bright, sunny day. It’s an indelible memory. One that I hold very dear.

Here are ten other things that I remember about Venice that put a smile on my face whenever I think of them.

1. Traversing the tiny footbridges, pausing to look both ways as I crossed the back canals, in order to appreciate the view and discover a treasure I wouldn’t want to miss.

2. The lovely gelato shop owner who not only had the best gelato, which we enjoyed no less than twice a day, but who holds the honor of being the very first Italian to ever say ‘Ciao‘ to me .

3. The manager of the tiny B&B where we stayed, who was a dead-ringer for Hank Azaria’s character, Agador (Spartacus), in the movie ‘The Bird Cage’. He was delightful and each morning he served us warm cornetti filled with peach preserves alongside the best cappuccino, prepared with his tiny Bialetti.

4. Taking a mid-afternoon nap listening to the beautiful sound of piano and violin wafting into the windows of our room, from the Music Conservatory across our canal.

5. Riding on the water. I rode the vaperetto, and took both a gondola and a traghetto- and there is nothing like riding the canals of Venice. It offered a perspective I wouldn’t have see otherwise. Getting to appreciate the facades of the palazzos up close and personal is something I’ll never forget.

6. The stunning view of Venice from the Campanile, the bell tower. Breathtaking.

7. The hustle and bustle of the Piazza San Marco. Standing in the middle of it- taking in the Doge’s Palace, the L’Orologio, the cafes that border the square, listening to the music, watching the pigeons, strolling under the loggias. I loved just feeling the energy.

8. The quiet. The lack of cars and scooters. I enjoyed hearing every footstep, every clip-clop of a stiletto heel. It was lovely being lulled to sleep every night by the sound of lapping water and the occasional boat that would slowly make its way passed our open window.

9. Wandering the maze of calle of Venice, with no particular place to go, especially at night.

10. Having dinner at Ai Cungai, a family joint, where the laundry dangled precariously above our heads and where the entertaining owner was more of a draw than the food. We watched her sip wine from other diner’s glasses and present dishes from the kitchen to everyone in the dining room before serving it. She spoke not a word of English and at the end of dinner, she pinched my cheeks and told me to call her mamma. Priceless!
What about you? If you have ever been to Venice- what makes you happy there?

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Melissa
October 30th, 2009
Robin what a great list!! Here a few of mine
1. Waking up to bells chiming from all the various towers. Beautiful.
2.Christmas time in Venice is very special. Love markets that are open during this time.
3. Your #9 wandering is absolutely the best. To find that unexpected shop or restaurant is such great fun.
4. Your #5, riding the vaperatto after coming off the train was the most amazing first experience in Venice.

My Melange
October 30th, 2009
Thanks. And I have yet to go at Chrsitmas- but can just imagine how special it would be at that time of year. With a dusting of snow, even. Thanks for sharing your list!

Lavanya
October 30th, 2009
Ooh- sounds lovely. If all goes well, I will be in Venice in less than a month (but only for a day..:() Can’t wait!!!

Paula
October 31st, 2009
Beautiful, Robin! Venice is the city of my soul. A few favorite moments:
1.walking along small canals and through sottopassagi in the quiet dark and imagining Casanova, assasins, lovers.
2. being in the Campanile on the hour, bells tolling
3. full moon over the lagoon
and many many more.

My Melange
October 31st, 2009
Your list is wonderful! I love the full moon over the lagoon image!

Michela
November 2nd, 2009
Hi! Thanks for sharing this! I love Venice very much..here my list for you:
1.the fireworks over the lagoon, at the “Festa del Redentore” simply spectacular!!
2. share with you #9…love wandering through the “calle” and stopping by in the venetian masks & antique shops.

Anne
April 6th, 2010
Wonderful list!! Venice was the first city in Italy I set foot in too (actually it was the first city in Europe I ever set foot in!) I’ve been back twice, and would go again in a heartbeat. Some of my most special memories are…

…my first vaporetto ride, we arrived at Marco Polo in early morning, caught the bus into Venice and took the vaporetto to our hotel near San Stae. I video recorded the ride and still get chills when I watch it!

…wandering with my Mom around the calle on an early misty morning in March when all was hushed and mysterious… *sigh*

…sitting in Giardini in Castello with my daughter (then 11 yrs), dangling our feet off the wall, enjoying the sounds and smells of the lagoon and watching the toddlers playing in the park

…an evening wander with my older daughter (then 17), stopping for gelato in Dorsoduro, raising our faces and laughing with abandon in the rain (because who cares – we’re in Venice!!)

…sipping my first spritz at a cafe near San Barnaba with a lovely friend I stayed with on my third visit to Venice. Same trip, sipping my first taste of Prosecco at one of the Rialto bridge cafes.

Thanks for this lovely, lovely post – brought back many beautiful memories of my own!

So glad I could bring back all of those wonderful memories for you. Thanks for sharing….

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