Wake up! Venice is in front of us! 

With a jolt of excitement I spring up from the back seat of the car. We have just driven four hours from Vienna to Italy. It is night and I can see the lights of Venice shimmering in orange and white on the water ahead. I am delighted to find that no vehicles are allowed in Venice and the first thing we do upon arrival is ditch the car. 

The second thing we do is hop in a boat. I adore boats. I grew up spending every summer on one and traveling through the San Juan islands with my family, so being on a boat brings me wonderful feelings of joy and nostalgia. The water taxi takes off to the island of Lido, off the main drag. 

Heading to the water taxi

Cruising down the Canal Grande

Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute

We make our way down the Canal Grande and my jaw drops and goosebumps cover me as our boat makes its way past gorgeous old churches, under little bridges, through narrow passageways and out into the open Laguna Veneta. Venice is soooo charming! More so than I’d imagined. I am mesmerized. The sponsor for Perola and my “portals remix” (in Vienna next year) has booked us a hotel on the island of Lido. Thank God he is with us because I can’t believe my ears when I hear the taxi driver ask for 70 Euro for the short ride. Holy Hell! Venice is not cheap! I don’t even want to think about what the hotel costs. I am so used to traveling as inexpensively as possible, couch surfing, hosteling or staying with friends, cooking at home and mostly just not buying things. It’s a luxury to be here in Venice on the dime of our generous sponsor. We check into our hotel, Quattro Fontane, a large, german looking place in the middle of a lovely flower garden. 

Quattro Fontane hotel (photo courtesy of Mymotels.com)

I fall asleep feeling the gentle waves of Venice and thinking about the day ahead. 

We will visit the Biennale. I am looking forward to seeing whats going on in the minds and works of some of the worlds most talented artists~

More soon…