Finding the Magic in Traveling

After a short flight and a 30-minute train ride, we finally arrived at the Santa Lucia train station in Venice, Italy. My husband had decided to book a weekend getaway for us last minute since flights from Bari, Italy (we lived in southern Italy ) were affordable. This Italian city has been on my bucket list for years and as we walked out into the sun its beautiful canals and architecture immediately greeted us. After years of traveling, our trips had started to lose their magic but this was different. This place took my breath away and all those happy feelings I had as a kid, before going to Disneyland, all came rushing back. Venice brought back my passion and love for traveling!

Like most of Italy, this city has its food delicacies but it wouldn’t be until my third or fourth trip here that I would truly get to taste some of the best flavors Venice has to offer. Whether we have a lunch reservation or opt for the famed cichetti, every corner of Venice is a visual feast. On this trip, we decided to play tourists and wander around to find a random place that stuck out to us. We honestly enjoy this because it allows us to discover places we may have not considered previously just because it’s not on someone’s blog or restaurant list. Though we do still enjoy those places too when we are in the mood. We finally settled on a restaurant next to the famous Rialto bridge and a beautiful view of the canal. As we sit for lunch, a newlywed couple passes by in their wedding attire, reminding us of just how romantic the city truly is. 

Beyond the typical TripAdvisor main attractions, Venice has its hidden gems that are worth seeking out. Though the famous gondola ride through the waterways is hard not to do, we decided to go with a friend’s recommendation and take a traditional Voga rowing lesson. Row Venice, a non-profit supporting local women and preserving the Voga tradition, is one of Venice’s best-hidden gems. (Women supporting women, we love that!) So of course it piqued our interest, plus when do you ever get the chance to have a rowing lesson in Venice? I decided to book a lesson on their website for the next day, but there was nothing available and my heart broke a little. I saw that I can email them for more lesson times. I quickly sent them a lesson request for the next day, hoping that when I woke I would receive a response with good news! 

As we sat on the edge of a canal, sharing a small bottle of prosecco, we waited for our rowing guide. The sun beaming down on us, even in the middle of September the heat can still be blistering hot. We cheered our prosecco, soaked in the sun, and took a moment to appreciate where we were. As the boat pulled up we were greeted with a warm smile by one of the founders of “Row Venice”, (Insert name). We thanked her for accepting our last-minute tour request and then she gave us a quick tour of the Voga before we headed through the canals. This area of Venice is not as crowded as the tourist areas. It seemed like every corner we turned brought a different feeling of magic.  We took turns rowing the Voga and her teaching us the skills.

After our rowing adventure, we decided to make our way back towards Piazza Marconi. Little did we know that our visit had coincided with the Venice Film Festival, there was a long red carpet placed on the walkway up to Dodge’s Palace with escorts dressed in traditional Venetian outfits lining the trail. It felt unreal like we were actually in a movie, this is the Venice I have always seen in movies and now I was living in it. Events like this paint Venice as not just a destination but a living, breathing spectacle. The city’s cultural calendar, from fashion shows to the grand Carnivale, breathes so much life into the city. 

Venice is a photographer’s dream, and even with our iPhone camera, we captured the essence of the city. From simple canal photos to picturesque locations like the bridge at Ponte lla’accademia, you can find that perfect shot.

That evening, deliberately getting lost in the alleyways becomes a perfect ending to our day. Venice, with its magic and charm, has cast its spell on us, ensuring that we will return time and again.