For anyone looking to ever plan a future travel trip with me there’s a few things we have to make clear before I get to the best parts of Venice.
1. Don’t let me get tired.
2. Don’t let me get hungry.
3. Don’t let me get stressed.
4. DO NOT under ANY circumstance let any 2+ of these mix.
We had an evening train that seemed never ending taking us from Austria to Italy. My navigation skills are far from even competent really, so leaving me in charge of the trains and maps and asking ‘are you sure this is right?’ Will stress me out as I adamantly inform you no. I’m not sure this is right.
You can imagine then, I’m sure, we then took our sweet, sweet time getting from the train station at Venice Mestre to the Hostel we were staying in. It should have been a simple trip. But hangry, tired Beth made it a nearly impossible journey. However we made, physically unscathed just about.
All we wanted at that point, was to arrive to an empty reception area, for a quick check in to be allowed to sleep after the long travel day and before we headed too far into the night. The world was set against us that day because while we were at the front of the queue some rather inconsiderate hotel users were arguing- what seemed a losing battle to the rest of the queue trying to check in, for way too long. All of us waiting felt bad. All of us waiting wanted our beds. All of us waiting wanted to tell them to shut the (any extra word you want to add here) up. Behind us was a family, 2 parents and a very sleepy toddler. We were all far from impressed that people could be causing so much hassle in the middle of the night, everyone would be much better prepared for it in the morning. Poor staff.
Our next day was pretty relaxed, I believe we over slept. By a lot. Can’t blame us though, we had a long night. We kept it chilled, hung out round the incredible hostel- highly recommend ao hostel in Venice mestre. It had the luxury feel but relaxed hostel envirouent. Basically if you’re heading that way, go!
natually we had to try McDonald’sout there-world be wrong not to! They chicken buckets, topped fries. Why is McDonald’s some where else always better than where you are? Did I mention my several and say to frequent 3am trips to Maccies for hash browns in Australia…?
Back to the real Venice. Our 3rd day we finally made it into real Venice. For anyone considering going- you don’t need to stay in actual Venice. If you’re as uncultured as I was heading out there I’ll explain it. If you’re clever, you can skip this chunk. Venice is a small island just off the mainland from Italy. You’ll have seen it in the romcom’s- chasing liberty comes to mind as they travel along the rivers on the gondola. So sweet. But as you can imagine- hella expensive to stay there! Venice Mestre doesn’t have much going for it, it’s just the town serving the basic functions, but it’s sweet, saves you money and only costs €2 for a train ticket across to the island which takes you about 10 minutes. But Venice it’s self is as picturesque as it sounds. Guess I ought to let the clever clogs join back in now.
Getting off the train it doesn’t seem any different. I mean apart from a train ride over the water but I mean, it’s like driving home from Southampton, or crossing the bridge to wales (All I can hear in my head is my dad shrieking “£5.50!” when we crossed the bridge years ago. I’m sure it’s more now.) it’s a sweet little train ride and I love physically travelling to places-can’t do anything but look out the window!
Once you’re out the train station you see the difference. The brick laid paths, the tan super aesthetic colour scheme, the buzz of real Italy. I’ve heard the further south you go the more expensive it gets in Italy. So Venice was a perfect little taste, I wish I could be there forever!
We didn’t do much, we were good at saving our money- massive travel trip, all the big tours and crazy days out are great, but just walking round a new city to see it in its natural day to day being. Tourist heavy for sure, but the buzz of the city was so light, so open, summery. I could have been Sophia in “Letters to Juliet” and that would have kept me quite content!
Every corner you turn, every road you walk down, every bridge you cross over, every moment you’re there just feels unreal. It’s so perfectly left alone, so different from even the small village I live in in southern England that’s being nothing but updated and renovated. It’s a real holiday trip, a real breathe of fresh air. I honestly could have walked around for days, to the other side of the island and back, entirely new routes, guessing every step and have been perfectly content there. It’s such an incredible place to be.
Check out the video on the IG icon above!
We stopped a restaurant along the canal to try some real Italian cuisine- it would be wrong not to. As grand as Maccies is, I suppose we couldn’t count it as real Italian food! We both had a carbonara to put it to the test. It was so sweet, with the water, gondolas and speed boats passing, everyone walking past the tables lined along the edge, the sweet littl canopy over head. It was bliss, and for 2 girls who hadn’t and still don’t really go for luxury or class when given the choice of a more simple option, this felt like a real treat and a real unmissable thing. There’s so many choices of restaurant, all along some length of canal, I don’t think we looked to hard we just reached a point where if we didn’t stop and eat cranky Beth would resurface and Italy had already faced enough of her for one trip.
Italy is a quaint and luxurious country, we all know it. And visiting for the mere 3 days we had only pushed me more into wanting to tour the country and really experience the deeper culture, History and beauty of such an incredible place.
It doesn’t hurt recently I saw the rise in popularity of the £1 house scheme some towns and villages across the country are having… wouldn’t be the worst thing to invest my savings in flipping a house down in southern sunny sweet Italy… right?
Keeping up with Beth 
Leave a comment