Wednesday, 4 October 2017

Summer Trip to Italy; Venice

V E N I C E

Venice is famous for its intricate network of canals. Don't be surprised, but the only mode of transport is either on foot or by water. It's possible to go anywhere in Venice on foot but it can get really tiring to travel from one point to another although the city is relatively small. The only way to cross over the interconnected canals is to use bridges. There are water taxis and buses as an alternative means of transportation. Always hope that the vaporetto (a term for water taxi or water bus) tickets do not run out, especially if you need a lift from the train station to your accommodation. You wouldn't want to end up like me who had to struggle through the crowd while lugging my luggage for 45 minutes in the sweltering heat. 



The city is certainly full of character; every corner of the city offers a delightful surprise and little-known gems to be discovered. Souvenir stores are everywhere. You can easily find Venetian masquerade masks, authentic Murano glasses, miniature gondolas or other novelty items as souvenirs in Venice. If you're wondering how to get around Venice with the complex canal system, Google Maps would suffice as long as you know the name or the address of the location you're heading to! But sometimes, exploring without being overly dependent on technology would lead one to discovering the best of the city, yes?


Those who pay a visit to Venice would highly unlikely miss the Saint Mark's Basilica which is located at probably the most lively and popular square in Venice, Piazza San Marco. There are many cafes at this historical site that is surrounded by stunning architecture. Enjoy a cup of coffee or aperitif and the live orchestra at Caffè Florian, which is believed to be the world's oldest cafe. Don't be startled by an additional per-person fee charged on your bill for the music!





Of course, a ride on the Gondolas is a must when you're in Venice. There are many places in Venice where you can get a Gondola ride. If my memory serves me right, a 40-minute Gondola ride costs €80. The rate varies at night and it's a tad more expensive. I remember the ride I took lasted for only 20 minutes or so.. what a rip-off. The gondolier seemed to be rushing off for other customers. Just our luck! Gondoliers who sing or play instruments are available as well, but there is an extra charge for it. Other than that, the view from the canals was pretty amazing especially with the glowing sunset in the background at the Rialto Bridge






Remember when I stated that not all tourist traps is bad? Trattoria Al Gazzettino is a good example. Although I do avoid tourist traps most of the time, I gave this place a try as it was near to my accommodation in Venice, and Mama Heng was also famished after a long walk. The lobster pasta and seafood were tasty and perfectly-seasoned. However, I was disappointed by the squid ink risotto (one of my favourite Italian dishes!) as it was a little bland to me. The service, on the other hand, is top-notch. We were greeted warmly and were given some complementary pasta after we were seated. Then after the meal, we were served a slice of complementary chocolate cake, some biscuits, a few shots of grappa and the owner also gave us a bottle of wine as a gift. Maybe it's an Italian thing; they really do know how to treat their customers.

Sottoportego delle Acque, 30124 San Marco, Venezia VE, Italy


 Osteria Ae Sconte possesses all the key qualities of a good restaurant; delectable food, reasonable prices, excellent customer service, unhurried atmosphere and unruffled environment. The tables were set up in a welcoming manner at a small courtyard along a quiet alleyway upon our arrival. Nothing went wrong and the meal was yum!

Castello 5533, Corte Perini - S. Lio, 30122 Venezia VE, Italy


Tucked away in a small alley, Caffe del Doge is an ideal place to have the quintessential Italian breakfast; an espresso and a pastry. Their pastries were served fresh; the croissants were buttery but the crusts were not flaky enough. I did not try their espresso because I was (and still am) trying to cut down on caffeine. Their cappuccino was pretty good though and overall, it's a decent underrated place that one should give it a try.

Venezia Rialto, Calle dei Cinque, San Polo, 609, 30100 Venezia VE, Italy


Chanced upon a cafe that has an attractive array of cakes and open-faced sandwiches on display while we were exploring and roaming around the city. What seemed to be the most appealing was the fact that the shop was air-conditioned, hehe. Although I was born and raised in a hot and humid environment, the Summer heat in Europe is quite unbearable for me. You have no idea how much sunscreen I have applied on my skin! Anyway, the sandwiches there were nice and we also tried Prosciutto e Melone, a typical Italian antipasti. I rarely (almost never) consume cured-meat so I'm not sure what's a good Prosciutto e Melone is like. Also, do you know most sandwiches found in Italy's coffee shops are served cold and they would not warm it up even upon request? Yep. 

P/S: I totally forgot to take note of the name of the cafe.. All I remember was a church nearby - I don't think that was very helpful though. Sorry!


Suso easily hits one of my top 5 places to satisfy Gelato cravings in Italy. Trust me, it probably has the best Gelato in Venice. I've tried a few random Gelato shops but the Gelato was not velvety and creamy as it ought to be. Many used artificial flavors and preservatives that were too sweet even for me. The crowd at the shop proves everything.

Calle della Bissa, 5453, 30124 San Marco, Venezia VE, Italy


The pasta at Dal Moro's Fresh Pasta to Go is recommended if you're looking for a cheap grab-and-go meal! The price ranges between €5-7 which is considered inexpensive and most importantly, the tastes were satisfactory and the portions were generous and filling. The spaghetti was cooked al dente and I personally didn't really enjoy it because it was too chewy although this seems to be the right way to cook pasta. The Pesto pasta was much preferred over the Arrabiata if you ask me.

Calle Casseleria, 5324, 30122 Venezia VE, Italy


Nonetheless, Venice still and forever will hold a piece of my heart. It's arguably one of the best destinations to escape the hustle and bustle of city life. Ciao for now, Venice. I will come back for you, some day!




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