"Venice, Stupidly Expensive But ..." a Venice Travel Page by 43beckos

Venice has a feeling all of it's own, like no other city i have ever visited .One of the most fascinating things about Venice is the way that the vista of the city changes as the sun moves during the day. Buildings that have a pink appearance early in the morning have an almost terracotta hue at sundown.
No where is this changing colour scheme more apparent than in St Marks square, and if there is one tip I could give about visiting Venice, it is to steer clear of the very poor restaurants that are in the streets off St Marks Square, and certainly always steer clear any restaurant that has pictures of it's dishes in the window. These establishments serve small portions of poor quality microwaved dishes. If you are looking for better food either walk a good 5 minutes form St Marks Sq or better still catch the number 1 Vaporetto to the Lido where the restaurants are of a much better quality and far better value .

Definitely Baloney. I almost feel like I should be posting this info in danger and scams, as although the experience of drinking a Bellini in Harrys Bar is on the " Must Do" lists it really is not worth the exhorbitant 66 euros ( $81) for 4 drinks, which comprised of sparkling white wine and peach juice from a carton, not the pureed peaches usually served with a bellini. The waiters had all the bon homme of an undertakers convention, virtually throwing the drinks at you ( served in half pint glasses not cocktail glasses) and not even offering any nuts, crisps or even a baldy olive .The ambiance of Harrys Bar is, well non existent actually. Customers are wheeled in and wheeled out as quickly as possible, because as soon as people realise the low grade drinks they are being served, they dont stay for another, and the starched waiters can lure in another unsuspecting punter from the queue outside. The queue really should listen to the warnings of the violated people leaving Harrys Bar. My advice is to go and get a nice bottle of Pinot Grigo from one of the bars in St Marks Square for 30 Euros and sit and watch the world go by, and leave Harry to play with his bellinis on his own. We recently returned to Venice for a friends wedding, and the reception was in the Danielli and they served a Bellini that far outshone Harrys Bar.

After you have finished marvelling at the spleandour and grandeur of Venice Island, a trip to Burano is a must.

The houses on this island are all painted in very bright mediterranean colours, and this along with the customary canals makes for a very surreal, almost Disney type, location, but it is all real. Wander amongst the courtyards where peoples laundry flutter like flags against the brightly coloured buildings, then watch the local fishermen mend their nets on the edge of the bay, then make your way back to the main street and enjoy a Chianti in one of the many bars on the sunny side of the street.

As I said before , Venice has a unique feeling, and Burano is the anidote to the hustle and bustle of Venice, and well worth the visit just to remind yourself that you are in Italy.