Getting Lost in Venice

Day 20 – 22

Yeah you should probably pass through the crowded Saint Marc’s Square and walk over the bustling Rialto Bridge but none of thatcompares to the experience of simply getting lost in this labyrinth, far away from all the crowds.

Head to the Cannaregio district and the Jewish Ghetto where the few Venetian locals live and hide away from the mass of tourists who only stay long enough to take a few happy snaps and ride in a gondola before rushing off elsewhere.

Once you get there, put down your map, turn off your phone and just slowly wander around by yourself. Be it in the morning, during the afternoon or at night, you’ll come to truly appreciate this part Venice. For me, this is the real Venice.

Most of the streets are empty (except for the occasional local walking their dog and hopeless tourist who has gotten hopelessly lost while trying to find the water bus).

But despite all I have just said, the 6 of us did spend our first day walking around the entire island (which is doable but also exhausting in summer). We went to all the main monuments, took our obligatory selfies and rode a gondola for less than 15 euros each. We got all of the touristy things out of the way early on.

On this day we also found the best place to grab lunch. A friend of mine, who had studied in Venice for some months, recommended ‘Alfredo’s’ to me before I left Melbourne. She had told me of their delicious homemade pasta, served in a Chinese takeaway box for only 7 euros. Foolishly, I had only looked up the general area of the shop instead of searching for its exact location. Idiot.

After receiving general directions from about 5 local storeowners, (If this many people know of it, it must be good. It must be worth the venture) we finally found it hidden down a tiny ally way. I was famished and so shared 3 pastas with one of my good friends. It was all to die for. It was fresh, cheap and full of flavour (all rare to find in Venice). We all sat on a small bridge nearby with all the other patrons who had luckily stumbled upon Alfredo’s. I didn’t care that I was getting pesto and tomato sauce all over me. I just had to keep eating until I reached the bottom of the box.

While eating as much amazing food as I possibly can is integral to my holiday, wandering around and having andytime is also a must (if you have been reading my other posts, you should have realised by now that I do appreciate being by myself). And the best part of my stay in Venice had to be during my last night.

Going out alone, while my fellow travellers grabbed some takeaway dinner, I made my way up to the most northern part of Venice. The roads were extremely wide and the houses were up to six stories high (most of Venice is incredibly narrow and much shorter). Everything was residential but no one was out and about (perhaps this is because there are laws against playing ball games, cycling and doing any other outdoor activity that might be seen as fun). It was a little creepy to be honest. It seemed as if the whole place was abandoned. That was until I reached the edge of the great sinking city.

A large promenade stretched down the entire North West corner (on the left). A few locals were drinking and smoking around their houses, kids were running about with water pistols and some taxi drivers were refuelling their boats at the petrol station. I just sat on the edge of Venice, with my feet dangling above the vast stretch of water that lay ahead of me. The red sun was setting and the sky slowly turned a purpley pink colour (it was all quite romantic. Such a shame I didn’t have a beautiful man accompanying me).

The sun went all the way down and I peeled myself away from the view. I walked around this area for another 45 minutes or so before forcing myself back into the main area to grab something to eat (It was about 10:30 by this point and I was starving). I then got a heap of cheap and nasty pizza before heading back to our apartment in Cannaregio .

Venice had treated me well but we were heading off to Florence tomorrow. No time to linger any longer.