The Best Of Venezia

I'm back in Venezia.
Doing something a bit different this time instead of a hostel. Apparently, there are a lot of places to camp right outside of Vemezia. So, that's what I'm doing for the next few days. A small tent with just enough room for my bag and the cot thing I get to sleep on. It's the cheapest place to stay at about 10€ per person per night. I love camping so this just makes me as happy as a clam. All I need now is a fire, some cold beer, and maybe a s'more or two!
After a short bus ride, we're in the city. Over the huge bridge and I get my first sight onto the Grand Canal.  It's just as magnificent as I remember it. Gondolas everwhere and water taxis all queued up at the pier to take you wherever your hearts desires.
There are tourists everywhere, more then locals I think. Down every street you can see little alleyways cutting this way and that going to who knows where.
 The best part? Following the alleyways. Take a break from the usual sights and experience the real Venezia. Plus, since all the churches in Venice charge you money to go in, there isn't much to do on the cheap here. Murano was definitely an awesome place to check out the glass blowing and see how the world famous Murano glass is made. But really, I most enjoyed the alleyways and coming out onto some canal where the locals are sitting in their boats talking to one another while tinkering.
I still love the striped posts in the water that the typical gondoliers dock to, the shop windows full of paier mache masks for Carnival, and the men playing the accordian as you walk down the main thoroughfares. But give me a bottle of vin rosso and a tiny hidden dock on the water overlooking Murano as the local young adults hop in and out of their boats to get pizza and wine for their romantic night on the water and I'll have a better night than doing anything else.
Overall, Venezia is nice if you have money to spend and someone special to share it with. Not so nice on a budget. Still it is quite gorgeous if you can find those places away from the thousands of others looking for a gondola ride.

What next? A much needed break from the go go go on Lago di Garda.

Besitos a todos!