Triple Venice !!

3 Venice in 3 months

It can take some people a lifetime just to visit one country, one city or even one town.

We were lucky and in the space of just 3 months visited 3, yes 3! Venice.

1) Viable Venice, Las Vegas

Well, the Vegas Venetian resort to be exact; a man-made construction with permanent blue skies and elaborate frescos, imitating Italian Venice.



Remember, IF the Italian counterpart does eventually sink

you’ll always have Vegas!


On crossing the replica Rialto, gondoliers transport tourists through a maze of canals while shoppers delight in high class shops and people chatter excitedly on terraces over an authentic Martini or Cappuccino. 

Although crowded with eager visitors the artificial ambience and opera music move you to a world so far away from the bustling Strip outside.  

Las Vegas boasts the World within walking distance and, after marvelling at the grandeur of an interior (but by no means inferior) Venice, we still found time to travel to New York, Egypt, Paris and Rome!

2) Varied Venice, Los Angeles

Opposites attract as this Venice houses luxurious beach retreats for the rich and make-shift beds for the homeless.  



A tolerably wacky place but watching the sun go down here is

a truly magical experience!

Eclectic mixes of people rub shoulders here: Skilful skaters and surfers, curious tourists, lost tramps, dog walkers, baby strollers, wannabe models, sun seekers and lovers.

You can wander the house lined canals behind the front, get your "Botox on the beach", visit a herbal "doctor", haggle with a street vendor, amaze at the wackiness, but at the end of the day: Oh, that beach!! 

It’s easy, and energizing, to promenade here along the golden Pacific coast.  We joined the active set, hiring bikes for a day and, free and easy on two-wheels, rode to Santa Monica and Marina Del Rey. 

3) Vaporetto Venice, Italy

A maze of wandering streets open up every now and again to reveal a square, a church, a canal, a bridge or oops …. a dead end!

 

Dear Venice, you are a truly unique place where

the story book closes on leaving but the memories live on!



On entering the mystical masked world of this Venice, the only traffic you experience is on the water.  Noise pollution is the gentle whir of a boat engine or the soothing music flowing from the striped gondolier/church /Palazzo.  Your car is your boat and the public bus is the Vaporetto.  Daily business is aquatically conducted for policemen, firemen, taxis, delivery men and even the rubbish is collected by water. 

By day there were people everywhere but by night all was deserted, which became strangely haunting when we got lost!  Maybe we went at a quiet time, it was unusually cold, and it wasn’t just us that froze, the water did too!

All “Venice”: different in so many ways yet similar in others ……

 Canals and boats, tourists and camera flashes.