My wife and I eloped back in 2015 and we took off to Milan, Italy for our honeymoon - with no real plans past that. On arrival at the hotel we decided to see what else was around close by and Venice wasn't too far away by train and we decided to make a mid-week journey and I am glad we did.
We had no booking prior, which meant finding a hotel and at the height of the European holiday season, this was no easy task and what we ended up with wasn't exactly what you would call "honeymoon standard", but it was cheapish and we were on a budget. A lot of decisions we make are made based on budgeting and since we never plan on staying at the hotel much anyway, the hotel quality doesn't really matter much to us wherever we go, as long as it is clean.
While I had heard that Venice is beautiful but dirty and smells bad and the throng of tourists is unbearable, I don't think that this was our general experience. At times there were a lot of people crowding around, but they seemed more to gather in certain areas and if staying slightly off the beaten path, it wasn't too much of an issue at all.
Venice is a maze and it was hard to navigate, even with a GPS and pretty much, everything looked similar. I think it would be relatively easy to learn the way around if spending a little time there, but we were on more of a flyby visit, getting into the city in the afternoon and leaving the next to head back to Milan. This meant that we had no time to waste and we walked from the time we arrived (after spending ages finding the hotel) to when we left, with a small bump in the road.
By the end of the night at around midnight, my wife started not feeling well and since everything was closed, we went back to the hotel in the hope it would pass by morning. The shot below was taken from just outside the hotel itself, which as said, wasn't very glam - but it was clean... enough.
I could have spent hours of the night just taking long exposure shots around the city, but unfortunately was restricted to about 10 minutes...
But all things have some level of positive in them and while I headed out early to find a shop as my wife was still feeling ill and our hotel didn't have breakfast, I was able to see a little of Venice before the tourists arrived, while there were just locals on the streets setting up for their day or trying to get in and out before the masses arrived by train. While out, I managed to grab this shot of a gondolier, one of my favourite shots I have ever taken. It reminds me of a spaghetti western of some kind with the lone hero awaiting his showdown.
We didn't do a gondola ride through the canals as like I said, even on honeymoon, we were on a budget and while I kinda regret it for the experience, I am also glad we didn't. While we walked around we saw the canals packed with tourists in what was essentially a gondola traffic jam, with the gondoliers having very loud private discussions with each other over the heads of their well-paying fares. There was nothing romantic about it, other than the ideas of what it was expected to be. I think if I had been on one of those boats, I would have been more annoyed than impressed.
But, the city itself is impressive, with obviously a lot of history to it, but the layers and textures of the buildings are amazing. My camera setup wasn't ideal as I didn't have a wide enough lens, but there is so much depth on show and the washed out colors, exposed bricks, crumbling and leaning structures and all kinds of little details to be discovered in the background, made taking photos a joy. I hope to go back there with a few lazy days to wander.
One thing that we did seem to miss there was the nightlife and other than having the local drink of fame, a Spritz Veneziano in a crowded bar, there didn't seem to be much on offer past about 8 at night. Not that we could find anyway - not that we tried very hard.
We were happy just walking around and enjoying the warm summer nights together - after all, we were in Venice on honeymoon, one of the most romantic locations on earth and after all of the day-trippers had left the island, it was calm and beautiful - the kind of place where walking hand in hand seems the only way to walk.
I have heard both positive and negative reviews of Venice before and after, but I think that the negatives are generally around the crowds and if one can spend longer than a day-trip there and see it at night and in the early morning, the crowds won't matter much in the middle of the day. In my opinion, if the opportunity arises, I would recommend it as a travel destination for everyone, although with a lot of walking involved and it being potentially quite hot in the narrow streets, it might be difficult for some people. Also, if you get frustrated by crowds easily, time your trip to avoid the peak tourist points.
One thing we did and I strongly recommend is instead of buying breakfast in a cafe, grab some bread and fresh fruit from a shop just as they open, find a quiet place to sit down on the ground by the water and enjoy life. Pretty much everywhere is beautiful there and with so few people around in the morning, it feels quite magical.
Taraz
[ Gen1: Hive ]
I've heard good news and bad about Venice, too. Mostly good. The art is phenomenal, of course. It's really a pretty impressive place to have honeymooned, when you think about it.
It's amazing how that clean enough standard changes in need, isn't it? I've stayed at some serious dumps during big rain storms and been damn glad to have a roof! Though I have to admit that in a couple I slept in my sleeping bag on top of the bed. :)
I'd have probably needed to make the day trip to the romantic center of Bologna. Where Ducati is headquartered...
I am really glad we did the trip. Not only that, when we announced our marriage on Facebook, my best friend from highschool and someone I hadn't seen since I was 16 happened to be in Verona with his wife for the opera - it is a stop on the way to Venice and we managed to have both breakfast and lunch with them (which is why we got to Venice later than we expected) which was brilliant. It was a pretty incredible surprise and chance meeting.
Hotels are generally meaningless to me (if I am paying ;D ) as I don't tend to be in them much. Probably different travelling with a child now though. I have stayed at some pretty bad places over the years too , but not so bad that it is unstayable. In general, places have been clean and I don't care for all the fanciness. I think a lot of people are spoiled by average conditions these days and forget, life can be much worse than even the worst hotel.
Romance is a very personal thing :D
If you make it to Bologna, it isn't far to Maranello and then a little north and you can take a little a ride at Monza ;)
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ENGAGEtokens.I v always wanted to travel around Italy or France or Paris and the surrounding areas if anything to experience something with a history far older then America.
The closest iv gotten so far was when my wife and I were married in Las Vegas and checked out the Venetian and Paris casinos
As always, great photos...
I have been fortunate to have travelled a little in the past at least (who knows in the future) and really enjoy Italy and Spain. Paris is nice too, but only aspects of it.
One of the things that has helped my wife and I explore is that I have always tried to find a place for us to dance salsa and it has meant we have gone to areas most tourists don't.
I think if possible, everyone should travel just a little outside of their country or culture if they can and expose themselves to how similar we all are in so many ways.
We are hoping to travel to Canada as soon as the boarder opens open again. I don't think it's vastly different then America but it's a start
I have an uncle (if still alive) in Toronto and have always wanted to see Canada. I have never had a strong desire to go to the US though - but I would of course go if I could. I would like to photograph in NY for example.
I think that while not entirely different, Canadians themselves are a bit more (on average) down to earth and relaxed than Americans. Though my experience with both have mostly been hockey players :D
BTW, I hope you get to travel :)
!ENGAGE 20
ENGAGEtokens.Go wander in
FuckingBruges instead. It isn’t as big you can see all in the same time you spent in Venice, the buildings are as old and actually properly maintained. The canals stink less than the lagune in Venice and there’s many less rats.The piazza is less impressive, granted, but the Belfort tower is a nice thing to visit nevertheless.
While in recent years cruise visitors have increased and the current mayor has launched a campaign to limit the number of day visitors, it is much less hectic too. And cheaper.
Lastly... you have plenty of Belgian beers to explore and awesome cakes and even ice cream which can compete with Italian gelaterias. Oh... and it's also called called the Venice of the North.
Alternatively go to Utrecht in the Netherlands. One of the leading cities in climate emergency solutions too. And an awesome hospitality sector. But it's "public secret" tourist element is about to burst.
You mean like this? ;D
Because of being robbed in Amsterdam, our Belgian visit was cut short and we only had a few hours in Brugge, but it was nice. When we were there, it was a bit of a ghost town as it was a little earlier in the year and the central European holidays handed started.
There was a lovely little chocolate shop we enjoyed :)
The closest I got to Utrecht was a train ride through from Amsterdam on a work trip on the east side of the country.
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ENGAGEtokens.The pictures look really nice. I wonder if its changed at all since the more recent floods its been having?
I find that the amoint of tourists in an area really depends on the time of year in a lot of cases. Peak seasons can be unbearable at times.
We have also done what you've suggested, bought bread and a pastry at a bakery and had that for lunch or breakfast instead of spending a bunch of money on an expensive meal. Its a good tip for sure.
I am guessing it goes through floods often enough not to change too much?
Yeah, I don't like crowds, but city destinations make them hard to avoid.
And far more enjoyable when you can pick the location and don't have to worry about whether the overpriced restaurant food is even going to be edible. The first place we ate at in Milan was a shocker, but it overlooked the Duomo. The next night we went to another place just around the corner and the food was fantastic and still overlooked the Duomo. The first was on the main entry into the scquare though, so everyone stopped there....once.
Really, the food at the one place was that bad eh. There is nothing worse then paying for a crappy meal.
It really was terrible. Better than the service though.
We were on the terrace and literally told a group about to take a seat that they should go somewhere else.
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ENGAGEtokens.A beautiful destination, no doubt. It's a pity that people sometimes get carried away by the average, and don't enjoy things or places beyond or in depth... In a bustle or crowding loses the romance, nothing like walking and observe and enjoy everything that offers the site, take beautiful pictures, know the food of the place people who live there enjoy the fullest of the place ... Many times it happens that the sites are full of tourists and it costs a lot to enjoy on the contrary one ends up taking a bad impression because we do not understand that the enjoyment goes beyond what we are sold as the simple tourist attraction that is not precisely to ride a gondola. The architecture and buildings fall in love is a beautiful place!
One of the "problems" for me in Venice was the lack of local interaction. When I travel, I like to spend time with locals chatting about life - we didn't get to do that at all there.
Too bad! sharing with local people is the best way to get to know the place, customs, traditions and even important places since people usually make suggestions for visiting emblematic places. I hope you will have another opportunity to visit Venice and get to know it well, it is a very interesting place.
Would love to go back. One thing that normally works in my favor with the locals in Italy and Spain is that people think I am local myself :)
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ENGAGEtokens.I have traveled through Europe when I was studying in the UK. My wife and I have been long planning for a trip to Central Europe, which is obviously did not happen before the baby. Hopefully we can dissect Europe from the UK to Hungary or Poland like I did back in 2010. That was an amazing experience I would never forget. I hope our next family travel will be more relaxed and slow paced compared to my bachelor trip that started with hostels in Amsterdam and ended in cheap hotels in Krakow 😇
Hungary would be great, so would Croatia I think.
A great experience no doubt. I never did this and I kind of regret it. Would you recommend it to all young people?
I think one should at-least consider it depending on their capacity to adapt. You may quickly get swayed into lot more deeper than just weed when you are there. Having said that, it is an exceptional way to travel through cities and understand and experience the culture without having to worry about the time and boundaries.
I enjoyed that a lot. I have been planning to do the same but with some twists as a lot older man. Crisscrossing North America driving with your family is the adventure that may come close.
Sounds like some interesting stories! :D
While travel is a luxury, I wish more people could have a little travel experience. So much of the global population never make it out of their city or region still., even in western countries.
Lol. There were and i am not sure i am proud of them. They were experiences much needed in life.
Agree. In that sense i feel lucky that i got this opportunity to experience multiple cultures and traditions.
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ENGAGEtokens.Thanks for the amazing photo tour. Congratulations that you have someone who supports you even in such non-standard things as a honeymoon with a limited budget. It costs a lot.
The holiday wasn't originally a honeymoon - but we ended up turning it into one as it was convenient. My wife was studying at the time, but then was moving into a new job that would take a lot of effort and time. indefinitely. We had to take the opportunity while we could.
Doing while there is an opportunity sounds like clever words of smart people :)
I'm not sure what "honeymoon standard" is to begin with XD
I think "everyone's" idea of a gondola ride is the two of them/you sitting on the other end of this long boaty thing from the gondolier gazing into each other's eyes while said gondolier is merrily seranaging you on a stringed instrument while somehow also rowing, and then reality doesn't match up XD
I'm trying to imagine what the inside of that collection of buildings in your last photo would have been like, my brain has decided it's like a rabbit warren in there XD
One bed at least... :D We had to push two together and there was a gap in the middle.
It was more like sardines in a can with men shouting over the heads about the women they met at the bar the night before.
The entire city is a bit like a rabbit warren.
side note: I haven't heard or used the term "warren" in decades. I am definitely losing my active vocabulary.
Wow. Great route for honeymoon. I already love Italy. I got married in May but unfortunately we had to cancel honeymoon. Maybe one day we will go! :)
At the end of the day, anywhere is good where you can be together and enjoy each other :)
You are quite right! :)
I know Italy from pictures! Venice is an icon of romanticism. But like you and others, I've read positive things and others not so positive, especially things that have to do with the chaos and the large influx of tourists. While I see your images, by the way very beautiful, I think about how those places will be now, after the pandemic. Italy was one of the European countries most affected by the Covid. These days images of Piazza San Marco were passing by, almost empty, desolate. Will this be the new reality of Venice? Less chaos and clearer waters due to the low traffic of the gondolas? Nice Sunday, @tarazkp
I think as soon as things open up again, most of these places will be inundated as people will feel they have to travel while they can, as know one knows when the next lock down will come - and there will be more.
Amazing adventure...
I wouldn't call this a slice, it's a loaf.
I think it's normal she felt sick because she was new in the environment but since love conquers all, it conquers the fact that you guys eloped.
I can't quantify the massive love you guys have.
I grew learning Venice to be the city of canals.it baffled me how buildings could stay so long in water without sinking.
The structural integrity is absolutely amazing. There wouldn't be roads and I can imagine you got lost a few times.
How about mosquitoes...?
How did kids grow up in that area with no playgrounds...?
They had to have best swimmers because it reminded me of a movie in which Dwayne Johnson acted where the world was sinking.
Canals instead of roads...
Imagine New York or Manchester like Venice city.
I trust you had so much fun because we can only enjoy while it lasts.
I have no idea either :D'
It is sea water, so there are no mosquitoes around.
I have wondered about this too - it would be a strange childhood. I am not sure it would be enjoyable, but if born into it, I guess it would be normal?
im gonna get married soon I will consider Milan, Italy for our honeymoon and enjoy week or two
thank for sharing such amazing post
Hope you get to go - but anywhere different is a great place to be and learn :)
wow. these photos are great! perfect composition and framing. congratulations. Venice is a place I dream of seeing. Your sharing sparked this passion.
It is a very easy on the eyes city and worth a long walk around with a camera. If you do go, make sure you get up early.
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I was in Italy in 2015, specifically I was in Rome and Chiaravelle, they are definitely magical places, too much history and fair beauty, hopefully one day I can return and visit Venice. Greetings from Venezuela.
Was Rome really nice? It is on my list of places but I have never had the chance.
I have been to Italy a couple times, the other I spent most of the time in Tuscany.
Rome is charming, truly magical, there are many places that you have to visit and each one of them has a particular history.
I dream of returning, not only for its beauty but to meet my sister again, she lives in Chiaravalle.
nice picture i guess they remind you of your honeymoon i will go to italy if I have a chance not on honeymoon because I'm not married lol life of single is simple
If you can, travel before you are married :D
haha nice one
Your wife has always been an understanding person and like you said you guys have always lived by your terms which is so nice.
The pictures are really nice too. I like the way the buildings look. they look old but strong. They remind me of a particular game Onimusha.
the crowd is a turn off for me, I don't flow properly in crowds.
I think these days, a lot of people want all of their life to be fancy and will run up debts on cards to do so - and then spend years paying them off. I'd rather have a little bit special and a fair bit of normal.
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Hiya, @lizanomadsoul here, just swinging by to let you know that this post made it into our Honorable Mentions in Your post has been manually curated by the @pinmapple team. If you like what we're doing, please drop by to check out all the rest of today's great posts and consider supporting other authors like yourself and us so we can keep the project going!That is so awesome! What a fun city to stroll through. I love Venice. Everything about it seemed romantic to me. I lived about an hour west of there, outside of Padua for a short time. I was still in my 20's and it was such a great springboard for Europe.
I think all young people should travel, if just for a short while before they settle down into life. The different cultures, just by crossing over the borders is amazing. I love the people and they welcome you with open arms to have a cappuccino with them or something to eat! It is so heart-warming to travel and discover the world.
I did ride a gondola, with the gondolier singing, and this time I had three kids with me~!! It was still so romantic!!! I swear to it! Your pictures are awesome and even though to some, it is a crumbling nightmare, I love it there. Truly, I do.
Wonderful post!
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🎁 Hi @tarazkp! You have received 0.1 HIVE tip from @dswigle!I really need to take my wife here. I heard recently with the "great human pause" that the canals cleared up and they actually had dolphins in them for the first time in decades!! can you imagine going there and seeing that!
I heard the same. However at least while we were there, the smell from the canals people have talked of wasn't present and it was still a hot day with temps in the 30s. I wonder if it is that tourists are becoming more aware in general?
Would love to have got a picture of dolphins - I have never really got any good sea images :)
Venice is on the menu for us for sure. Just looks super cool. I like the idea of getting a lunch of bread and cheese and bits and chilling in your own spot somewhere. Make it your own. Good move that was. Well done you guys.
This is the place we chose for breakfast. it was just us at a dead end path.
cool spot. Your very own piece of venice for the 2 of you. What could be better?
Greetings! I liked very much that you will show the reality of Venezuela and the best that it was without discrediting. And through the post you can see the city accompanied by your narrative.
I tell you that Americo Vespucci, an Italian navigator in 1499, associated the houses of the natives built on pillars on the lake (palafitos) of Lake Maracaibo with the houses on the water in Venice, and so he called Venezuela ("little Venice" - "piccola Venice")
What a dream!!! How beautiful is all of this! I miss Italy so much!