Get Away From it All (Venice)

Member Name: Edwina Irvine

Product:	Venice
Date:	07/07/00 (29 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: wonderful for exploring

Disadvantages: tourist areas are toooooo touristy

When you arrive in Venice... either by plane or by coach, you panic!!! Basically, the outskirts of Venice are horribly industrial slums and it begins to put you off.

However, once you have taken a short boat ride into the main town, the architecture changes dramatically and Venice becomes the place that you had always imagined it.

The main areas of Venice that most people have heard of like St. Marks square and the rialto bridge are absolutely heaving with tourists. It can take ages to fight your way through the crowds, and to be honest, I don't think it is worth struggling. The shops in these areas are sooooooooooo expensive and if you want to sit and drink a cup of tea, i suggest you remortgage your house.

My tip for anyone who is spending just a day in venice is to get away from all the tourists and explore all the tiny little alleyways. I left the beaten track and found wonderfully picturesque sights... little sleepy courtyards where 'real' venetians were chatting and going about their everyday business. I ran down alleyways that were barely wide enough for a human being, looked at little craft shops where local people display their wears... the traditional glass, lace, wood-carving, brightly coloured masks; and all at prices that you can actually afford!!

Don't worry about getting lost... the main area of Venice is not actually that big and if you do find yourself on completely the opposite side of the main islands... it won't take you that long to get back, just as long as you try and find a landmark to follow because it is extremely easy to get lost among all the little alleys!!! I know from experience!

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