18 Hours in Venice

One of the best things about Venice is that it begins the moment you get off the train. Step out of the station, look straight ahead, and there are the famous canals with water taxis and gondolas, bridges, and buildings. Everything you imagine Venice to be, there it is. We only had 18 hours to spend there, 8 of which was for sleeping, so we didn’t think we’d have much time to explore.

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As it turns out, you really don’t need that much time to experience Venice! In the short time we were there, we walked miles and miles, in circles, over bridges, down narrow alleys. We island hopped, boat hopped, water taxi hopped. We had coffee, macaroons, gelato, cocktails, wine, and an amazing meal, all in just a few hours. My advice: go to Osteria ai do Farai and let Dino, the owner, do the ordering for you — I think that man is capable of reading minds. We had one of the absolute best meals of our entire trip under his care. And, if you let him, he’ll sit with you and smoke endless cigarettes while telling you all about his BFF Jake Gyllenhaal. What a guy, that Dino.