Venice - A Misty Morning

On sunny days Venice sparkles. But when the sun gets high and hot, the island heats up and quickly grows muggy. I preferred days when with a bit more cloud cover. It doesn't take much to make a romantic moment in Venice, but I found misty mornings to feel particularly mysterious. And photogenic.

If you want to travel like a local, or if you just need some time off of your feet, find a seat inside the Vaporetto instead of hanging out on the deck. It can get a little stuffy if the water bus is full. But if you score a window seat you get a nice view and a breeze. Plus you might meet a cute puppy.

After checking in at La Salute, the picturesque Roman Catholic church situated right at the entrance to the Grand Canal, walk right to the end of island to Punta della Dogana. That's the little bit of land where the Grand Canal meets the Giudecca Canal (and the name of the museum that's situated there). On my visit there was a great statue of a boy holding a frog, but it seems that the statue has since been removed to make room for a lamp-post.

I stopped for lunch at a cafe I'd read about in an online travel guide and had a pretty mediocre meal. I ate outside and my table offered plenty of atmosphere and some nice people watching. A pleasant meal, even if the food was barely average. A disappointment quickly assuaged by a cup of gelato and another ride on the Vaporetto.