Our first and only night in Venice passed by much too quickly.
So the following morning I was on a mission to see as much of the city as possible before our evening flight.
With the shops and narrow streets clogged with tourists fresh off the cruise ships, we dodged down an empty stone passage and swiftly took to the canal!
Leaning out over the water, we hailed a passing gondola. Once aboard, it was evident there is no better way to experience the enchantment of Venice.
Our wizened tour guide was proud to come from a family of gondoliers. His licence was passed down to him from his grandfather, and eventually he will bequeath it to his son-in-law. He pointed out significant buildings, and poetically lamented the current economic and political state of Italy. It was so romantic listening to him orate behind us while we canoodled in our loveseat, watching antiquity float past just beyond the lacquered edge of the boat.
We stopped at the Bauer hotel to pick up friends on our way to lunch. The terrace was an absolute dream, and we couldn’t resist a glass of prosecco under the scarlet canopy overlooking St Marks.
After our pre-lunch aperitivos, we boarded a taxi to the restaurant.
“Harry’s Dolci” is located on Lido island with a terrace that looks back onto the hem of Venice.
Seated at our table, covered in crisp robin egg blue linen, we ordered a round of Cipriani’s famous bellinis and set to work translating the all-Italian menu.
Can we just go back to the bellinis, though? Pureed white peaches and prosecco… So exquisite I was rendered totally silent.
Our server made some astute recommendations from the menu, and before long he was back at our table flourishing an array of dishes before us.
Vitello Tonnato (veal with tuna sauce)
Squid Ink Pasta
Veal Ragu
Sole
Shrimp Scampi
A blissfully mellow last meal in Venice! We idled over coffees and dainty glasses of grappa, trying to delay our inevitable return trip to the airport.
After a while, our taxi arrived and we reluctantly (but happily) climbed aboard and scuttered toward the departures gate.
Venice, it was a whirlwind – but an absolute pleasure!
