This city. It’s really difficult to find the right words because it was just so different from anywhere I have ever been. It is definitely one of the most beautiful places I have ever been to. It is just amazing that this city even still exists. There is water everywhere. No cars. All boats. The buildings are all stone. Little shops open all over, many featuring the gorgeous Murano glass and Venetian masks. Fresh bakery items everywhere. Gelato. Pizza. Pasta. It was adorable, and quaint. Easily romantic if I wasn’t with my dad (hey Alex… take me back there ❤). Just look at the beauty in this impossible city.

Then it started to rain. At first, not so bad, but then it got pretty stormy. People wear waders over their shoes and pants. They put up walkways during high tide in the colder months for people to walk over the water pouring onto the streets.

We grabbed some lunch at a restaurant by the Rialto Bridge, a pretty touristy area. The food was okay. Overpriced. I made the mistake of forgetting everything is a la carte and ordered French fries with my pasta. Moron. They were good at least. But the bread was good, we had salami cheese and polenta for antipasto, then I had tortellini alla parma ham, and my dad had risotto alla marinara.

We were really tired from the awful train ride, so we took a nap before heading out again. Rain was full force and it was dark out, but there were still many people out and about. We took the waterbus to the Basilica of the Salute, a giant church on the opposite side of the Grand Canal from St. Mark’s Plaza and Cathedral. The church was beautiful.

In the same area was a museum that stretched out the end of this little peninsula that had two really cool statues outside that I wanted to see.

The blue statue is at the end of the peninsula in the following picture.

Now imagine heavy rain, big waves, strong winds. I didn’t want to get too close to the edge of the walkway. It was pretty anxiety provoking, thinking I was going to get blown over into the water. But I wanted that picture, damn it!

Then we made our way over to St. Mark’s Square. Not as many people now that it was 7p and stormy.

After getting soaked, we found our way into a tiny restaurant by our hotel. It was fantastic. Way better than lunch. My dad had risotto alla marinara again, and I had gnocchi alla bolognese.

We have a few hours left in Venice tomorrow, and then on to Rome!