Venice {Italy 2017}

When we began planning our trip to Italy I knew Venice was a place we would have to go. I feel like Venice gets a bad wrap for being super touristy but I really don't care about that. I wanted to see it anyway, I have always wanted to see it. So, touristy or not it went on the itinerary. I have to say, it totally blew my mind- such an amazing city and totally worth fighting the crowds in the tiny alley-like walkways all over the city. Spoiler alert: I loved it!

By the time we arrived in the actual city of Venice we'd been traveling for many more hours than I'd like to count. Our layover had been extended in Zurich and the water bus from the airport into the city seemed to take forever. Luckily Topher was awesome during the whole trip and kept his cool much better than I did. We were met at the water bus stop by a gal who showed us to our AirBnb which was down a twisty turney alleyway and up three flights of very narrow stairs. It wasn't super luxurious but it was a place to sleep and spread out so we didn't mind. 

After a long nap we ventured out into the city and as twilight began to fade in. It was some kind of magic! We just strolled aimlessly and made our way over the Rialto Bridge and enjoyed the smell of Venice- pasta and garlic and a little dirty water. We stopped for dinner at a pasta to go place a friend of mine had recommended. We walked some more and ate our pasta pomodoro and spaghetti bolognese out of paper cartons on a small bridge overlooking one of the canals. Every so often a small boat with a local or two would pass by. It made me wonder what it would be like to really live in a city like that. 

Topher takes a sink bath after crawling all over everything in the city!

The next morning was our only full day in Venice and the first stop was St. Mark's Basicilla. How they ever managed to build something that grand in the middle of the water is beyond my comprehension. We had tickets to go all the way up to the top and look out over St. Mark's Square. The view was pretty amazing and the horse statues up there definitely drew Chritsopher's attention.

Along with the tickets to the Basillica we got tickets to go to the top of the clock tower, the tallest point in Venice. The views from there were unbelievable! It looked like a totally differnt world up there. When you are on the ground you are surrounded on all sides with at least four story buildings and it feels like a maze. You are constantly going over bridges and walking along canals but from the top of the tower you can't see any of those paths and it looks like one solid island. 

Christopher was too busy looking at this gold circle on the floor to notice the views. Because of course he was.

After more wandering around the city we found a place to eat and Topher experienced his first Italian breadsticks! He learned a lot of things on this trip and one of them was to drink from the small water glasses they had at every restaurant we went to. I was worried at first but he did so well with them and didn't break a single dish the whole trip!

The afternoon brought naps for all of us followed by our first round of gelato. Now, Topher won't eat ice cream at all. Like, won't even let it near his mouth. For some reason gelato was a whole different story. We almost always got him lemon flavor- because it's white and won't stain clothes- and he loved it! He would gobble down a whole cup of it in no time flat!

So let's talk about one of the reasons I have always wanted to go to Venice- gondola rides! I don't know if it's just hollywood hype about them or what but they just seem so dreamy to me! I knew it would be an expensive experience but it was one of the only things I felt like I HAD to do in Italy. I mean, come on!

Christopher was constantly leaning over the edge trying to touch the water but we managed to keep him in the boat. Our gondolier was kind of a funny guy. He knew all of the other gondoliers and they would all chat to each other as we passed. It was another moment when I wondered what it would be like to actually be a local in a city like that.

This is probably my favorite picture- all the gondolas lined up about to turn into the Grand Canal! Just a bit of a surreal moment for me for sure!

We went for dinner at a canal-side restaurant and surprisingly we were all still awake. I don't think jet lag really hit us till a few days later. There was so much to sit and marvel at as we ate our dinner- the water, the architecture, our trooper of a child who was happily eating his dinner. It was a perfect evening.

Okay, so Christopher didn't totally make it through dinner. But this is traveling with a toddler, sometimes you have to give it a good cry!

Our last stop of the day was where we began- St. Mark's Square at night. Bands were playing at all the cafes and crowds were gently milling around in the warm air. Venice was everything I imagined it to be and such a dream come true!