I fell for Venice immediately - it was definately a case of "love at first sight". The canals, the music, the narrow streets, the gondola's - it was unlike anything I have ever seen before.

Venice is much bigger than we expected, and we got lost many times, but that was half the fun, and I think the best way to discover this labrinyth of streets and canals. We spent our one full day in Venice watching the boats on the canals, shopping, exploring and wishing we had more time.

San Marco Square was beautiful, if not for the thousands of pigeons that call it home. I have never seen so many in all my life, and cannot believe that people encourge them to land on them by holding handfuls of seed! Yuck!

We took the lift to the top of the bell tower and enjoyed the views of the city and other islands. From above Venice looks like any other old city, just surrounded by water. You can't see the canals that weave their narrow paths between the buildings.

It's amazing to think that this city, that now appears to thrive on tourism alone, was once a huge trading port. How great it would be to have seen it back then - authentic and not just on show for tourists like us.