Some say that this city is dirty and smelly. I have to respectfully disagree. Venice was one of the most beautiful cities I've been to (Melbourne is still number one!). I had a tough time with the title for this entry, in a way Venice is vibrant. It's bustling with life, whether it's tourists, the locals in their boats, even the cats and pigeons!

For the duration of my stay in Venice, I stayed in a camping ground just outside of town. A tent with 3 other people, you can imagine it got pretty hot at night. A way around this is the hostel had a pool and buckets of cocktail for 15 euro (1.5L). Expensive, yes but well worth it! any cocktail of your choice. Naturally I had GnT - extra lime thank you.

I did in fact spend one morning by the pool, must have fallen asleep because when I woke up my stomach was red. When I say red I mean RED like, redder than a tomato red. It was awful, I could't move to save my life. It blistered in Croatia something awful. I got out of the shower one night and some of them had filled with shower water and It looked like I had giant sacs of water taped to my body. But enough gross talk I'll get back to Venice!

I think what I loved most were the canals. Just the fact people park their boats in a garage...that's on water. Sounds strange even saying it. It's just a beautiful city, the Gondolas, the masquerade masks on every street corner, even the cats on every other street corner! The only down side to Venice is the price of everything! It's so expensive. A goldona ride is 80 euro, apparently they are prepard to haggle - if you get one on the outskirts of town. Stupidly we went to the city centre and had to cough up the 80. Between three though this wasn't to bad. And you can't go to Venice and NOT go on a gondola! Our man wasn't much of a singer but he did know his history. Could have made it up but hey it sounded good. The canals were incredible I found it so peaceful to just sit back and let the slight rocking of the gondola ease me further into relaxation.

Venice was also the first place I had Italian Gelato and A Negroni - the Italian way!! It was delicious, the gelato and negroni. Not at the same time obviously, that would have been foul. the first gelato I got was Dark chocolate and yoghurt. The chocolate was incredily rich but balanced nicely to the yoghurt which was beautifully refreshing and clensing. Now onto the Negroni!! For those who aren't sure what a negroni is allow to me to enlighten you. A Negroni is 1 part Campari, 1 part Gin and 1 part sweet vermouth with a wedge of orange squeezed then left in the glass. It's an aperitif, meant for before a meal to get your appetite going! Incredibly bitter, not many people like it - its an aquired taste. When I come across someone who hasn't had it before I take great delight in telling them it's sweet and watching their reaction. Simmilar to someone who has never had vegemite befrore! Anyway this one was sublime. Just what I was looking for on that hot European summer day.

If you ever come to Venice, I suggest around 3 days max. Unless you're some kind of millionare in which case may I come with you?