There's something like a love story inscribed in Italy's old bones.
It's, no doubt, why it's such a favorite destination for globetrotters and selfie-takers alike. You'll have to look a while to find a person who doesn't like traveling to Italy, and even then, it may well be a case of finding the wrong city. After all, visiting Rome is nothing at all like visiting Florence, and still nothing like lounging on the beaches at Ravenna.
At the very least, even if you hate great architecture and yummy food, you've still got the serenade-like language, the stacked museums, and the music. Italy's a very hard place not to like.
For my 25th, we visited a town in Italy where none of us had ever been before. Venice. La Serenissima.
Why so serene? 
Pretty soon, though, the entire republic adopted the name, and why shouldn't they? It's possibly one of the nicest nicknames for a place I've ever heard. And at one point in time, when everyone was unifying into kingdoms around them, Venice retained its moniker as a mark of distinction.
A subtle, as-ever diplomatic way of announcing to the world, we'll stick to republic, thank you.
Now, if you've read any of my previous travel posts, you know I'm not all that keen on traditional touristy spots. Of course, we went to see all the classic things like Piazza San Marco, and the Rialto Bridge and all that, but most of all, I loved taking in the atmosphere.
I'm a big water person. Always have been. Always thought I'd move somewhere near the water at some point. Though not even I imagined you could get this much water in a single city. Most water places I've visited so far have had like a river, lake, sea exit, or a nearby ocean. Venice, though, is something else. I can't count all the bridges we crossed. Water snakes through the entire city, to the point where sailing is the no. 1 travel method in the city. Surpassing even walking, as I understand it (though I assure you I walked plenty!). All major services like paramedics, fire brigade, and so forth, function by water. And most houses have a boat parked outside.
It certainly sets a fresh perspective, not to mention provide an opportunity for some sweet shots.
Personally, I ascribed the name to the loads of water in the city, as for me, water has always had immensely soothing qualities. I'd be pretty seren too with this much water around.
La Fenice
One of the more touristy spots that I really wanted to see was La Fenice Theatre, the city's major opera house. Alas, there were no shows playing while we were there, but we did get in for a tour during the daytime, and it was wonderful.
The glitzy front hall put me off a bit, as I worried it'd be all too gold-y for my taste, but the opera hall itself was stunning. We were even able to sneak into one of the first floor boxes, and even caught the rehearsals for La Boheme. Which was super fun.
I was always a bit shy about the opera world, feeling I didn't belong there with my weird piercings and my loud music. But I fell in love with it when I was living in Prague thanks to the insane discounts they were offering to youth. I found then you don't have to look a certain way to fit in a place. Moreover, I found that the people who look the most "right" for a fancy setting (be it an opera or a restaurant) are the least at ease. Weird, huh?
Rialto & San Marco
We stayed right near the Rialto Bridge, and I found the entire area a bit touristy. The bridge was almost always packed, and the docks were full of dodgy-looking gondoliers trying to hook you. I did get to explore some interesting backstreets (a phrase you can use to describe half of Venice, at least).
Several times, we ventured down winding alleyways and dubious-looking narrow streets, much to everyone's unease. It took a second to get used to it, and understand that's just what regular streets are like in Venice. And while it still pays to be cautious, it's probably not the abode of Ted Bundy or Freddy Kruger.
I also liked that we stayed on the other side of the bridge. The slightly less touristy part, which meant it wasn't so crowded.
San Marco Square, on the other hand, was insanely full of people, to the point of getting a little anxious, but it was well worth it for the view of the water. Not being a very religious person (or in a particularly reverent mood), I didn't go into the Basilica but liked the Romanesque carvings on the outside.
The face behind the mask
We visited Venice in the week leading up to the famous Carnival (which is kicking off tomorrow), so naturally, the party was already kicking off, with confetti everywhere, and masks at every corner. We had an interesting visit with a local artisan, complaining of the many Made in China rip-offs available on city corners, and how they were diluting the market, and implicitly, the value of the whole thing.
With a history dating back all the way to the 11th century, the Carnival of Venice seems to have been around forever. But in truth, it's only been a thing now since 1979. Though it started (back in the 1100s as a military celebration), the carnival quickly gave way to licentiousness and basically transformed into a free for all of debauchery, which naturally upset the Catholics, leading to the Carnival to get outlawed.
Apparently, the Church took a particular dislike to the use of masks (oh, the irony). Naturally, one wants to see the sinner's face. So while variants of the famous Venetian costumes were used for sumptuous private parties, the Carnival itself was banned for a long time, until the government noticed national identity beginning to slip, and got a little antsy. Thank fuck for that, because it's a glorious display.
