Venezia

Life in Venice marches to a different drum. In fact, upon arrival to this city build on water you feel like you're entering a different time and world. That is until you stroll by one of its McDonald's or Burger Kings. Hard as it is to believe that anyone would choose to eat at such an establishment when walking through a foodies' culinary heaven. Venice to me is everything you've seen in the ads and movies and postcards. That and much more. It's like an antique, grown-up Disneyland on steroids. It is so picture perfect, charming and quaint that it is almost surreal. The buildings are hundreds of years old and are precariously perched amongst the canals. There are the striped "barber" poles. Canals are filled with gondolas all trying to pass under the Bridge of Sighes. Pastry shops beaming with fresh marzipan, chocolates, almond tortes and pistachio treats. And the costume shops with their store front windows are like a still-life theatre. The ornate Carnivale masks, puppets and costumes are such works of art that they one can't help but be mesmerized. What most travellers don't know is that Venice (in its peak seasons) is so crowded with cruise ship passengers and marauding tourists that you can barely move down its tiny, maze-like streets. Everywhere you turn, there is a flag on a pole or a bright umbrella being held up with some guide hollering in German or other foreign tongue. Although crowded beyond my comfort level, Venice is a truly remarkable and special destination that will linger in my memories for many years.