Italy is a country that’s addictive. Once you’ve been there, you want to go back. That’s why, when my vacation in Istanbul ended and I was heading back to Miami, I chose to stop in Italy again. Known as the “Floating City,” the “City of Canals,” and the “City of Masks,” Venice—a city of art that once ruled as a peaceful republic and bears the nickname La Serenissima (“The Most Serene”)—was my destination, and I traveled there via Pegasus Airlines. I walked to the bus stop right outside Marco Polo Airport and boarded the No. 15 city bus. Since hotels in Venice are expensive, I stayed in the Mestre area and explored that region in the rain on my first day. The next day, I took the bus to Venice.
Actually, you can get off at the last stop and walk across the bridges into the city, but since it was a rainy day and I wanted to get a better view of the canals, I bought a ticket for the vaporetto—a type of boat—and took a canal tour.
I really loved Venice’s historic houses lining the canals. The captain, who was picking up and dropping off passengers at the small, swaying docks, warned me at one point. I had sat in the front to get a closer look at the scenery, but standing was prohibited in that area. Since I stood up a few times, the captain’s warning forced me to sit down. Since I was wearing a raincoat, I was the only one sitting there; the other people were traveling in the enclosed section. I really enjoyed this canal tour. I got off at the final stop, San Marco Giardinetti. Since I was cold and wet in that charming spot filled with mobile-cart vendors, I wanted to take a coffee break and went into the famous Italian coffee chain, illy. I chose the “Banco” option for the cappuccino—, which was €3.5 at the counter and €6 at a table—and paid for it. While I was waiting, I put my bag on a chair, and when the waiter said, “You can’t sit there—you paid for ‘banco,’” I realized that “banco” didn’t mean a small order after all; it was the “banco” we know. “Tavolo,” on the other hand, means “table.” Therefore, if you want to sit at a table and drink, you have to pay the “tavolo” fee. Don’t try to get a “banco” and then sit at a table—they’ll follow you and warn you.
Therefore, I drank my coffee standing up, but I sat by the window at the front for a bit to rest. There, a waiter came over and asked for an order. I couldn’t just sit there doing nothing, so I had to leave because time was short. It was raining, but I really wanted to see many places. I made my way through narrow streets and small-shop arcades filled with a large crowd and reached the world-famous St. Mark’s Square. Because it was raining so hard, the streets were flooded. People had put on long plastic boots over their shoes, and they were selling these disposable rubber boots for €10. The chairs at the square’s cafes had been cleared away. No one was sitting outside, but the musicians kept playing. This was my second time seeing St. Mark’s Campanile, the world-famous bell tower in St. Mark’s Square, after many years. I took a selfie with the tower—I’d seen replicas of it before in Istanbul, Antalya, Orlando, and Las Vegas. There were long lines in front of the Basilica and the Doge’s Palace; raised wooden platforms had been set up, and tourists were walking on them to avoid getting their feet wet. I took off my socks and shoes, rolled up my pants to my knees, and put on the beach sandals I’d brought along just in case.
Just then, a petite woman around my age with long black hair asked in English, “Even if we buy the ticket in advance, do we still have to wait here?” I replied, “You can buy them online, but you have to do it in advance; otherwise, you’ll have to wait in this long line.” “Actually, I was going to go sightseeing yesterday, but while I was waiting in line, I felt my waist bag suddenly shift to the side. I was so prepared, but before I could even react, a couple of teenage boys squeezed up against me and stole my wallet,” she explained, recounting the incident from the previous day. There were warnings everywhere in Italy. People were advised to carry their bags carefully because there were so many pickpocketing incidents. I started exploring the city with this American woman living in New York who said her name was Marisa. Venice is made up of labyrinthine streets and water-filled canals.
Since neither of us had internet, we tried to find our way by asking for directions and following the signs. We went into a church to get dry in the rain and watched a service. I organized my bag.
We sat at a café called Da Gigi, sipped cappuccinos, and chatted. We continued exploring the narrow alleys lined with small shops. Since she was considering renting an apartment in Venice and living there for a few months, she asked the local shopkeepers and waitstaff about rent prices. When the twin sisters from the Netherlands and their husbands, whom we’d asked to take a photo, turned out to be Turkish, I was the one who kept the conversation going this time. The Rialto Bridge, one of the spots where tourists take the most photos, was packed despite the rain. I was surprised when Marisa said, “It’s even more crowded in the summer.” Even on this rainy day, it was already very crowded, and we had to wait in line to get to the front. We had a lot of fun exploring the quieter streets on the other side of the bridge where the locals live. The view—with gondolas and motorboats passing under the bridges between the canals, and historic buildings that seemed to have been washed over by the humidity—was like a painting everywhere. Venice is a city you can easily explore on foot from start to finish. It’s not very big; you can walk from one end to the other in 30 minutes—that is, if you don’t get lost. We got lost plenty of times in those labyrinthine streets. Luckily, it wasn’t hard to find someone who spoke English. Eventually, we followed a couple who helped us and made our way back to St. Mark’s Square. Since the rain had stopped, music was playing in the cafés, and people were strolling around, listening to those Italian melodies. It was getting late, and we said our goodbyes. I sat down on a bench in front of the gondolas to eat my sandwich. When I reached into my bag to take out my shoe and put it on, I realized it wasn’t there. I couldn’t remember where I’d lost it—I probably forgot to put it back while organizing my bag at the church. The worst part was that I didn’t have a spare, so I’d have to go all the way to America in flip-flops.
I took the vaporetto again and arrived at the bus stop. This time, I sat in the interior section and enjoyed watching Venice’s night-lights through the window. I took the bus from the station to my hotel in Mestre. The next day, after breakfast, I bought my ticket from an ATVO bus company this time. Although ATVO buses cost the same as city buses, they were much more comfortable and spacious. At Marco Polo Airport, there were posters and Olympic rings for the 2026 Milan–Cortina Winter Olympics. The Italians were very excited about this major event and had already plastered every surface with posters months in advance. After checking in at American Airlines, as I was going through security, wouldn’t you know it—my flip-flops tore.
Luckily, the girls at the counter helped and came up with a temporary solution by taping up my flip-flop. In Philadelphia, I had another little crisis. This time, I’d left my phone on the plane, and since I wasn’t allowed to go back, I asked the staff there for help. Fortunately, they found it on the plane and brought it back. I hugged the staff member who returned it with joy. You know, everything we have is in that phone now—it’s very hard to do anything without it. In the end, another trip to Italy is behind me, and I returned to Miami.
In Venice, I had seen the must-see spots like St. Mark’s Square, St. Mark’s Basilica, the Doge’s Palace, St. Mark’s Campanile, St. Mark’s Clock Tower, the Bridge of Sighs, and the Rialto Bridge. I didn’t have time to visit the islands of Murano and Burano, but Murano glass and jewelry were also sold in the shops in Venice. I also bought two gondola magnets.
By the way, as you know, Venice is sinking deeper into the water every year. The possibility of these historical landmarks being submerged is very sad, especially since the water rises in November but drops in January. Due to the high volume of tourists, certain measures have been implemented in the city. For example, feeding the pigeons—, which have become a symbol of the city—is now prohibited because they are believed to damage historical monuments. Additionally, starting in 2024, day-trippers visiting the city between April and July must pay a €5 entry fee. Those staying in hotels are exempt from this fee since they have already paid the city tax. Since I went in October, I didn’t have to pay this tax. Inspections are random anyway, but there is a fine if you are caught.
The number of tourists increases even more during events like the Venice Carnival, the Biennale, the Film Festival, and the Regata Storica—the gondoliers’ rowing race. In this city famous for its canals, bridges, and unique architecture, seafood is the star of the culinary scene. Also, if you visit Venice, don’t forget to unwind after a long day at the bars called bacari, enjoying an Aperol and fresh Venetian-style canapés, known as cicchetti.
Living in Italy, like anywhere else, may have its challenges and hardships, but with the positive, cheerful nature typical of Mediterranean people, Italians know how to enjoy life to the fullest. In addition, with its healthy cuisine that won’t make you gain weight no matter how much you eat, and its unique sense of fun, Italy is a country worth visiting and exploring. What’s more, visiting Italy once isn’t enough—the more you go, the more you want to go. In short, Italy offers its visitors a wonderful experience.
See you in the next travel post.
Your traveler friend, Canan…
Canan Sezgin
Instagram: @cansez2013
