Hey, fellow wanderers! It’s Jenna, and I’m thrilled to share the first leg of my Venice adventure during a whirlwind 2-week solo trip across Europe. Armed with just a carry-on, Venice marked my last stop after leaving Pula, Croatia, and wrapping up in London.
Arrival by Ferry – A Journey with A View
In order for me to get to Venice from Pula, I booked a ticket on a ferry. I used www.aferry.com. I found myself surrounded by German travellers. I actually think I was the only English speaking person on this ferry- except for the tour guides of course. The ferry ride was approxmately 2 hours long. The guides on the ferry warned everyone on board about all the scams that can happen to you in Venice and I thought it was quite helpful. Coffee, tea, juice, and cold cuts accompanied the scenic ride, creating the perfect prelude to my Venice arrival.
Navigating Venice’s Labyrinth – The Heat and the Hurdles
I finally arrived to Venice! The city of bridges! Here is where my first challenge began. In the scorching August heat, I sweated my way through the labyrinth of bridges to pick up my Airbnb key from a rental office. The struggle was real, but the promise of Venice’s charm kept me going. I thought my journey was almost done there and was told by the rental office that I had to take a water taxi in order to get to my final Air Bnb destination.
Wearing masks on the water taxi due to COVID added discomfort to the heat, but finally reaching my Airbnb provided sweet relief. Venice’s maze-like structure made finding the place a challenge, emphasizing the city’s easy-to-get-lost-in charm.
Chilling Out and Digging In – A Culinary Interlude
With the air conditioning a blessing, I unpacked, freshened up, and embarked on exploring. The first thing I did was search for some pasta. I stopped at a small restaurant by my Air bnb and ordered a tagliatelle. This costed my $9.50 Euros. I was pretty exhausted by this time from my daily travels. A tagliatelle in hand, a bottle of wine in my bag, I decided to stay in to plan the rest of my European adventure.
Unexpected Company – Matthew’s Midnight Arrival
Before heading to Venice, I made a call to my friend Matthew. He is a videographer and just so happened to be shooting in Amsterdam. The magic of watching peoples instagram stories and staying connected through social media!!! This resulted in him joining me. With cheap European flights and a spare room in Venice, it didn’t take long to convince Matthew to join me.
I remember he arrived late at night and I had to go meet him near the water taxi entrance. This was about a 10 minute walk for me. Venice is pretty creepy at night. Dark alleys, tall walls and eerily quiet. Venice is a quiet place after 9pm. Overcoming my fear of navigating Venice’s eerie night alleys, I welcomed Matthew.
A Day of Content Creation – Churches, Cuisine, and Capturing Venice
Equipped with Matthew’s camera and drone, we explored Venice, capturing its Venetian architecture, restaurants, and wherever looked pretty to take a photo. We decided to grab some Sangrias after at a restaurant called Captain Uncino, and just caught up with life.
A Food Tour Adventure – Culinary Delights and Tipsiness
Vanessa Busca led us through the Jewish ghettos, sharing stories of barrel-aged wines and the vibrant chichetti scene. The overcrowded tour amused us, but locals seemed less thrilled. Our day ended tipsy and satisfied with gelato in hand. Side note- I am lactose intolerant but because I was in Venice I made a couple of exceptions.
Closing Thoughts on Venice – A City of Quiet Nights and Culinary Delights
Venice, a city alive by day, retires into tranquil quietude by night. A place where Aperol Spritz flows, delicious meals abound, and peaceful slumbers await. Join me soon for the continuation of my Venetian escapade on days 3 & 4. Continue reading about my Venice adventure – Days 3 & 4 here. Ciao for now, Jenna
