Venezia

We did all things Venice, and it was amazing to experience it all firsthand—those narrow canals, the busy Grand Canal, and the super-efficient public boat system. We walked all over the place. One highlight for me? Finding a Banksy. And St. Mark’s Basilica? Mind-blowing inside. We treated ourselves to a sit-down in St. Mark's Square, soaking in the vibes while having an aperitivo. We had dinner at Oliva Nera to catch up with Isabell and Jessica, and that meal was delicious. We ate chichetti, watched glass blowers in Murano, took a boat taxi-it was all a blast.

But there was this weird vibe lurking beneath the surface. It wasn’t just the artsy Biennale crowd—it was the lack of happy locals. Before Covid, Venice was buzzing with over 120,000 people, but now? Barely 30,000 are left, mostly older folks who can afford to stick around. The whole place feels like it's slowly turning into a ghost town. Talking to Isabel at the restaurant, hearing about her struggle to find reliable staff, kinda hit me. She and her family are holding it down, but you can see the exhaustion in their eyes. It's not easy. And don’t even get me started on the tourists. We walked by this rowdy bunch outside a bar, and suddenly, a watering can from a fourth-floor window starts raining on their parade. Classic Italian move, right? Had us cracking up. The group moved into the bar and quieted.

Then there’s the whole luxury brand invasion. Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent—everywhere you look, it's the same old story. Small, unique shops? Few and far between. I was hoping for something more authentic, something that screamed "Venice," but no such luck excluding Murano glass and Burano lace (which is mostly found in cheesy tourist shops). And everyone speaking English? The music all American. It was like we could’ve been anywhere in the world. Where are the Venetians? Why don’t they play Italian music?

But despite all that, Venice is still a beautiful place. Those sunset strolls along the canals, the gondaliers waiting for their next client, the sound of boats on the water, the absence of cars, motos, and bikes—it's hard to beat. Would I go back? Probably not. Venice might be changing, but its beauty? That's worth seeing with your own eyes.