Arriving in Venice by train from Bologna, we were greeted with sunshine. We made our way on foot to our apartment and quickly discovered there are no cars in the city. Transportation options are boats and the ever famous Venice Gondolas. The locals have their own mini boats or use the water bus/taxis to get around.
During our travel journey, we often hear from other fellow travelers that there is no place in world like Venice and it’s a must visit. Within hours of arriving, we saw the special beauty in this city. Sure its maze of canals are flooded with tourists all wanting a selfie and shopping. The true magic of the place begins early in the morning before the mass crowds arrive and after dark once the cruise ships depart.
The images we took at sunrise shows the tranquil version of Venice and definitely the side we love. It was a peaceful surrounding and felt like it was just us and Venice for those few hours. After visiting the famous Rialto bridge and St. Marks Square, there are many mini streets and canals to explore and see how locals live on the little islands that form Venice. Our 4 days stay gave us many reasons to return.
First day in Venice – sunshine & all smiles 🙂
Rialto bridge sans tourists
Quick selfie before the crowds arrive
Sunrise with light trails
Grand Canal view from Rialto Bridge
St. Mark’s Square @ sunrise
Pick a seat, any seat 🙂
Early bird catches the worm. We’re not the only one up early this morning 🙂
Table for 2 please…No reservations, no problem
Gondolas – long, sleek & black
Morning walks at St. Marks Square
The bell tower of St Mark’s Basilica
Venetian Gondolas were the primary form of transportation in Venice from the 12th century until speedboats roared into the canals in the late 20th.
Cruise ships arriving in the morning. We saw several daily.
Venice is a city built on water, and even its means of transport are closely related to it: you can choose either a water taxi or a vaporetto (the equivalent of a crowded city bus).
Another tourist with a tripod
Rush hour… Vaporetto on the Grand Canal
Another episode of…..Where’s Paulo?
Venice is planning to introduce speed traps throughout its canals to stop motor boats from churning up its waters. For years, the waves caused by motor boats have battered the city’s foundations and eroded its channels.
Rialto Bridge steps
A version of a local’s mode of transport
Love how the light hits the side of the building
Take home your very own Gondola
Thanks Suzanne for the beautiful scarf. Kept me nice & warm while cruising the canals 🙂
A curly tail seahorse decor
A bit of a cheeky photo but we had to do it 🙂
Had to take another selfie
Another Venice souvenir favourite. The Venetian carnival tradition is most famous for its distinctive masks.