VENICE, ITALY ROMANTIC TOURISM: VISIT CANALS, GONDOLAS, VENICE BIENNALE ART ATTRACTIONS. SOURPUSS RED DRESS.
Venice, Italy can be frustrating. You build up a mental picture of suave gondoliers — and get pudgy tourists and Disneyland lineups instead.
But then you duck under a stone arch, and there’s a crumbling Gothic church. Wander off on a side path, and you find a trattoria glowing with candles. The light shimmers from the water, the docked boats creak, and sigh — Venice still has its magic.
Having Casanova as your companion also helps.
La Carmina is wearing a “black heart” dress gifted from Sourpuss, and a wide-brimmed sunhat from Hong Kong.
Sebastiano is wearing a silk shirt stolen from Kira DNR’s closet.
We’re grateful to Hostelbookers for sponsoring our stay all over Italy. The hotel booking website put us in a large room full of character — we could hear the water outside our window. And the secluded location allowed us to avoid tourists the entire time. (More photos from our Hostelbookers rooms coming up.)
Our typical healthy meal: grilled fish, salad, rose wine.
Followed by an indulgence of Italian desserts. Tiramisu is a diet necessity!
The best way to know Venice is by walking wherever intuition takes you. We found an “interesting” clothing store.
Art galleries abound. Seba can’t seem to process Marge Simpson as an odalisque. (It’s too bad we couldn’t attend the Venice Biennale, an impressive gathering of modern artists.
Travel tip: wear a big-brimmed hat, sunscreen, and bring along a can of mosquito spray. And dress up for Venice. The soft, flowing light is ideal for photos, and you’ve got to play along with the city’s romantic mood.
Nothing in the world compares to Venice’s canals.
When the sun sets… indescribable.
Seba felt stuffed, but still, we shared mint gelato.
Our wanderings took us to San Sebastiano church! (The “O” must be for Sebastian-ooo.)
Someone please give his butt a push.
I didn’t realize I was making the “small” hand gesture. Appropriate, for this naked statue.
Thank you, everyone, for your comments — I read and appreciate them all. Next, there’ll be coverage of Milan, Rome, Modena, and more from Florence.
Have you been to Venice, or yearn to visit? Did you feel it was a commercial trap, or did you feel the magic?
Song of the Day: Nana Kitade – Kibou no Kakera (Powerpuff Girls theme song. Pandas are involved.)
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LA CARMINA
43 Comments
Oh thats cool :)
Loved the pics. Now I want to go…!
You must!1
La Carmina u look pretty in red.
what a beautiful city!!! I hope to visit Venice one day too!!
It’s a place you must see for yourself!! <3
it REALLY made me smile ;)
Yay!
idk if its the food or your eye makeup but i love that shot of you eating O.O LOL btw, love this post! I wish to go there one day~<3
LOL OMG I just abused my street team twitter -__- i hope this makes you smile LaCarmina :P
hahhaa that’s awesome!! Thank you!! <3
You are awesome ;) Thanks so much dear!
~Chief Casanova…
Oh, that brought back so many memories for me! I have not been back to Italy in over 15 years and I miss it so much! I have lots of family over there, so someday I will go back to visit. I want to go during Carnevale–I have several small ceramic masks from the last time I went.
Do watch out for the canals, though. As romantic as they can seem, some use the canals as their personal garbage disposal, which is quite sad. Venice itself, the architecture, all of it, is a work of art. When I have the means, I’m going back to visit.
I would LOVE to go to Carnevale in Venice… the costumes and masks! I have some photos here: http://lacarmina.com/2009/06/carnival-masks-of-venice-eyes-wide-shut-ornate-decorative-goth-masks-venetian-festival-masquerade-costumes/
We envy you!! You were in a wonderful romantic city with a romantic Casanova (yeah – we mean Seba!!!!)!! Thank you for your beautiful pics and for this report!!
;) Thank YOU for your support!
ha ha ha very clever and sweet
Beautiful! I would to go there one day too! OMG! Food! Yummy! ＼(^o^)／
mmmmmmmm tiramisu…
definitely going one day! Can’t wait for the post about Modena v(OvO)v
Yess we hung out with DNR there ;)
Holy Cow these photos are Beautiful.
really awesome!!! congrats u have a cool hair !!!
:DDDDD OMG
So lucky! I want to go one day and that tiramisu looked good. At the Venetian in Vegas there is a cute small shop with many masks such as that, it’s not from Italy buy they’re not all that bad. *Note for people that travel there who want it for a certain occasion.
Did you know there’s a Venetian hotel in Macau too? It’s quite cool… but not quite the same as the real deal!
this is one of my favourit posts. thansk for sharing with us!
Italy never ceases to amaze me with its beauty! and you darling, look gorgeous… LOVE the hair ;)
Aww thank you dear!
I haven’t been out of the country yet but if I go to Italy, I will try Tiramisu (my favorite dessert). I like your song choice; Nana Kitade is one of my favorite artists.
Tiramisu is one of my favorite desserts!
ahaha as my others lil brothers he stole from my closet… but it’s ok! I’m happy to watch my staff in these pics^^!!!
hehe!!
wonderful pictures! i’ve been in Venice the last year and I think it’s one of the most beautiful cities I’ve ever seen! <3<3<3
the photos are fantastic i especially like the give his butt a push one :3
Amazing, and your hair is very lOvely, as so is his.xP
*writing a late comment cause you always update so fast it’s hard to keep up :P*
Your dedication to this blog albeit your crazy schedule is amazing!
Thank you for this mini-guide to Venice, I love guides which encourage one to dress up and fit into the rich character of a place as rich as Venice instead of those which go ‘oh dress comfortably and light just wear sneakers blah blah’
I’ve never been to Europe before, let alone Venice, but when I do go I hope I look as good as you did there ^_^
It makes the difference in your experience, I think. Dressing up makes an event or place more special. However, I do recommend good shoes so that you can walk around to your heart’s content ;)
I just got back from Venice & the Biennale for a study abroad trip & I miss it already. :Venice definitely still holds its magic.. you two fit right in!
Aww thanks!! It was one of my fav memories from Italy.
Hey, I just found out about this post about Venice. Yes, really late, I’m aware… :D But, is there any chance you remember if there are some stores with goth clothing around?
Hi dear! Sadly there weren’t any specifically Goth shops, but there are beautiful masks and Venetian aristocrat wear that you can make into Gothic outfits! Have fun!