EUROPE BLOG April 12th, 2023 - VENICE

4/12/23- Another day in Venice. Our check-out is scheduled for 10:30am but we’re able to extend that an extra hour. Since we won’t be able to backtrack to the hotel, this gives up time to settle, rest and plan our day.

We leave our bags at the front desk, find a sandwich place to get breakfast (the roast beef is very good) and begin searching for the canal location in Dorsoduro that I took a photo of on our first trip. Off the main path, this is one of the most scenic spots in Venice and for good reasons. Sharece wasn’t going to pose for any pictures today, but after seeing the view she’s easily convinced and nailed it on the first shot.

Next up is the northern part of Venice. The walk takes us past the Basilica S. Maria around the San Polo area. The tiny alleyways are a bit treacherous to navigate as we’re almost shoulder to shoulder with passersby, but one thing Venice has are a lot of open squares that seem to appear out of nowhere.

Another intriguing spot is Ponte Chiodo in the Cannaregio area that has the last remaining non-rail bridge in Venice. This is a perfect spot to take a few photographs with feet dangling over the side, just be careful. If you fall in you didn’t get this idea from me. Not far away we visit a gallery museum in Ca ‘d’Oro by chance. It was 6 Euros each to enter and has a very picturesque balcony overlooking the Grand Canal. I am caught by security leaning over the rail while posing for a shot, and quickly told to not do that again. I guess someone may have fallen once.

Speaking of Euros, I’m pleasantly surprised this time around to see so many stores accepting credit cards, especially without fees. Even street vendors accept credit card now, where we purchase a coffee mug for under 10 Euros with ease, although Sharece slips on one of the bridges shortly after and it hits the wall as she falls on her butt. Don’t worry, the mug is okay.

With several hours left, we locate a wine bar nearby and each enjoy a glass, along with a few tarts we picked up earlier. The rest is much needed before we carry on another 20 minutes to the floating house (located where the rio di San Giovanni Laterano and Ponte dei Conzafelzi meet). It’s tucked away in the far Northern part of Venice next to a book store that’s so visited that there’s a line taking you through the entire store. Surprised people don’t do the Conga in the line to make is more interesting.

Simply exhausted, we circle by St. Marks Square one last time and hit up a restaurant for some drinks and bruschetta, before retreating to the hotel for our bags. The lobby is empty, so we’re able to chill for about an hour, recharging our phones and our souls. These last few days have been non-stop walking, up and down bridges and stairs, and we still have another twenty minute walk with our backpacks to get to the bus station. Shortly after 7:30pm, we do just that.

Our path takes us around a different part of Venice filled mostly with back alleyways and very few people, and it’s nice to view the city and enjoy the stroll one last time, despite our shoulders taking on the brunt of our packs.

We make it to the station with ten minutes to spare but we now have to find a restroom before the three hour shuttle ride back to Slovenia, and none appear to be in sight. I locate a hotel, walk in like we’ve been there before, and head straight to the back when the hotel concierge tracks us down asking if he could help us. I quickly tell him we checked out not to long ago and just using the restroom before we head out, and he points us in the right direction. Funnily, as we’re exiting the hotel afterwards, he actually apologized for being presumptive and thanked us for our stay. You know, when you have to go, sometimes you have to make stuff up.

We finally get back to Ljubljana close to midnight, grab some burgers from a place luckily still open, walk through the quiet streets for another 12 minutes, and crash shortly after.

What a fun side trip. It was nice to re-explore Venice while adding some spice to our trip. The weather held up as expected but it’s still in the air on how well our bodies did. I guess we’ll find out soon enough.

*Special note- if you wish not to pay the 100 Euros for a 20 minute gondola ride, you can get a gondola taxi that takes you across the Grand Canal for only 2 Euros each. It’s a short ride and doesn’t have the romantic feel of the canals, but at least it gives you a sense of how it is.