somas see italy: venice

Our first stop was Venice.  If I have one regret of the trip, it is that we didn’t spend enough time there.  You feel like you’re in a movie set and that around whatever bend you’re near, Angelina will come whipping around in a fancy boat, or you’ll get a glimpse of Reese Witherspoon kissing Hugh Grant filming some RomCom.  That didn’t happen, mind you, but I felt magic there regardless.  And it’s such a great destination for those who just want to “be.”  I mean, there’s many, many sights to see, but the wonderful thing about a city created from 117 islands is that just seeing it is the most important thing.  Every canal is beautiful and every arch exotic with byzantine influence.  I was told some great advice by Rick Steves (personally, haha) or someone like that… get lost.  The beauty to Venice is best witnessed off of the beaten track to San Marco’s Square, which happens to be awesome too.  And if you want to see the important things, you will, because while the cobblestone streets are windy and seemingly aimless, they all open to the most perfect little piazzas, with perfect cafes and impressive churches.  Honestly, you’ll just be so astonished that this place was ever created, let alone continues to be.  I don’t know if it will make you feel humble, inspired or gobsmacked (how the heck did I incorporate that word into this post?!?), but Venice made me feel all of those things and more that I can’t quite verbalize.

We also went before the city gets stinky, which probably really helped my rose-colored perspective.  Oh and it helps that you would have to almost work to NOT have a room on the water?

Here is our time in Venice, in pictures.  Notice the abundance of: bridges, colorful buildings defying the laws of decay (they were built on foundations of mush..whhhat?) and gondolas!


c o l o r 

 s h u t t e r s

c a n a l s

b o a t s

 g r a n d   c a n a l

a d o r a b l e

f o o d

c h u r c h e s

f l a g s

s a n  m a r c o   s q u a r e

s a n  m a r c o   b a s i l i c a

b r i d g e   o f   s i g h s

m u r a n o   g l a s s   m a k i n g

l i g h t s

So who’s ready to trade in their car for a boat?  Anyone, anyone?