VENICE- VENEZIA

VENICE-VENEZIA

I was so looking forward to this trip because I had heard so much about Venezia; the romantic city built on water.

















Venice


A LITTLE ABOUT VENEZIA

Venezia is in Northern Italy and I believe the only city built in the middle of the sea. Some of Venezia’s nicknames are Queen of the Adriatic “,” City of Water, City of Bridges and "The City of Light". It is well known for its art, music, museums and churches, fishing and used to be a major commercial hub at some point in history. The major means of transportation is by foot-walking and other by boat. The local language spoken is Italian and a smattering knowledge of the language would be handy so as not to be frustrated.


ARRIVAL-THE BUS BOAT

We arrived at the station and waited for the next bus boat to get into the heart of Venezia. The bus boat was very rowdy (like a Nigerian molue) with lots of tourists and suitcases and the sun was scorching hot. Prior to the arrival at each stop, a conductor will announce the stop amidst the noise (you need to listen real hard to hear) and passengers shuffle to the exit points where the boat docks and passengers disembark (more like hop off) from a very wobbly boat.
Our stop was at the Rialto Bridge (which seemed to be a popular stop) and we set of in search of our hotel.



















THE HOTEL

After walking around for over 30minutes we finally found our hotel on a narrow street that should best be described as a walkway. And as if it couldn’t be worse, our room was on the topmost floor and there was no elevator to get there.

So we dragged our big and heavy suitcases up three flights. The consolation however was that the room was really gorgeous, sadly though with no TV.

We got a good welcome from the couple that runs the hotel, with caution as well about what and what not to expect from Venezia. Some of the things we were told were: to carry our passports everywhere (example of why later on), where to get good Venetian food and wine, we were also told that the reason we had no TV in the room is to avoid hearing bad news from around the world. I was like duhh, tell me something different.



AROUND VENEZIA – BUILDINGS ET AL

San Marco

This town has got really old buildings (collapsible looking) all in water with narrow streets and canals/creeks.
The buildings are closely built to one another (have you been to Isale eko in Lagos state? that’s exactly how they look closely knit, but even older.) I saw some of the ugliest buildings in my life in Venezia. I guess that must add to its romance in some ironic way. Don’t ask me how, because I have no idea.

Venetian building

Venetian building.









And a very narrow passage


Also take a look at the myriads churches-predominantly catholic, museums and art galleries while there.

Italy is noted for its military/defense set up. This dates back to the time of the early Emperors. We saw a relic military cantonment in Venezia. We could not go in though for reasons we were not interested in investigating.


















Cantonement


















A view from across the river






SHOPPING


It also has lovely designer shops with Italian scarves, shoes and bags, mementos, clothes, sunglasses (can anyone please tell me why Italian sunglasses are so huge? I have never understood this), with extremely ridiculous prices and yet with tourists practically walking over one another window shopping of course.



















On display in a shop





PIAZZA SAN MARCO




















San Marco

For some reason, the reality that there is no means of transport besides walking/boat did not sink in, until we started touring the city.
From the hotel, we walked to Piazza San Marco which is St Marks Square in English.
This square is a must see when you are in Venezia.

This is where you can see famous art works of renowned venetian artists such as Titian and Giorgio Barbarella, listen to beautiful music played in the open air by skilled musicians, play with the numerous pigeons and feed them, (the pigeons are as many as the tourists, more like 2pidgeons to one tourist), to have some wine, eat or to simply play around.

San Marco is beautifully lit at night with amazing string music from the violin, viola, cello and double bass. What a delightful way to spend a romantic evening and all for free too.

While there we joined some tourists who were singing and dancing in a circle. We also bought roses to crown the night.

Small eateries at San Marco

THE FOOD

Tourist food everywhere never gives you a true feeling of what the natives eat. As I mentioned above, the couple who run the hotel we stayed at, had already given us clues as to where to go to get real Venetian food.

Because Venezia is a “water town”, it is only natural that it has lots of seafood and of course pasta.

Venezia at night

We proceeded to El Botto, a small homely restaurant where the food is freshly done and reasonably priced (about 15euros per meal). The pasta was out of this world, with various types of sea food in it. I have tried several times to recreate this food at home but have not succeeded neither have i tasted anything like it also in other parts of Italy.
I noticed something while there; venetians eat and drink at several place in a day. They stop at one shop to have a glass of wine and move on to another restaurant for starters, coffee and so on, so typically in a day they may have visited four to five different bars or restaurants. One rule to follow is to know where they eat and you will never go wrong.

Another eatery

For reasons which I cannot recall, we decided to stop at a lovely looking restaurant beside the river. The waiter suggested a menu for us which he said was 15euros but at the end of the day claimed was 50euros.Roll eyes-Italians. It was such a small meal with a lot of attention to it-sizzling plate with fire, the waiter cutting open the fish for us with a lot of show. At the end of the day it was tasteless. Do watch out for the pronunciation of 15 and 50 when you are there. (I believe we paid for the razzmatazz rather than the meal) .

ICECREAM

Every tourists delight! DO NOT by all means by your ice cream near Rialto bridge or where the major attractions are because they are watered down and too expensive. Instead walk further into the residential area where you will get the original Italian flavors, found straciatelli to be really nice with real chocolate used.

THE GONDOLA

These are small boats (canoes) that take you on a 3km ride around the canals of Venezia on a romantic ride at dusk, dawn or whatever time you desire and at a 100euro per trip you had better enjoy every bit of it. Daylight robbery if you ask me, but then nothing comes cheap in Venezia.

Gondola

Gondola

QUICK word about passports

Remember earlier I said we were told to take our passports with us everywhere strange though but we had to produce our passports at a cyber café before we could buy internet time. Its part of procedure they say.

MUSIC

Venezia is popular for its classical music especially by Antonio Vivaldi because he was a native of Venezia.

How could we be in Vivaldi’s own city and not attend a concert? For those who would like to attend concerts but have no clue how to go about it, here are a few tips/decorum.
Buying tickets-you need to ask what the sitting arrangement is like and whether it’s elevated or same floor seating. If it is elevated like you have at the cinema then any seat is okay as you can view the performance from all angles, if however all the seats are on the same level, then you may need to buy tickets that are close to the front in the middle section. These seats are more expensive than the ones further behind.

Dressing is formal or semi formal.
Decorum - no cameras and absolute silence, until the end of each performance, after which clapping is permitted.

At half time (like a football match), the lights go on and small chops, sweets, beverages and wine are usually on display sometimes for free and sometimes need to be paid for. This is a good time to network.

At the end of the act, if the performance has been outstanding, the audience claps continually until the performers come out again to give another bow. If the clapping continues, then goodwill implies that the performers render another piece. That shows how much it has been appreciated.

Music

Entrance into music hall with grand clothes

Art

Music hall

Entrance to music hall

So much has been said about Venice in history, stories and films have also added to its popularity. Even Williams Shakespeare had a thing for Venice.
Did you ever read “The Merchant of Venice?
Take a trip to Venice and you just might be fortunate to meet William Shakespeare’s merchant.

Yemisi.