I don’t know if I enjoy Venice yet or not because of all the places I’ve seen so far, this one is the most, shall we say, tourist-friendly.  Everyone (especially Americans is looking for the Venice experience that the soul of the city is hard to find.  While this is one of the only places in the world with absolutely no cars, the sheer number of people walking the streets and plazas fill in for the gridlock.  One good thing though, that as long as you are near any sort of canal, it is impossible to take a bad picture.  As for getting around in the city, an overpriced gondola ride is probably the fastest way to get from point A to point B (some of the upscale hotels are only accessible this way).  While on foot a map is a necessity because the streets end and begin in the oddest places and sometimes you will search for half an hour in the same area just to find the stupid information kiosk.

As far as accommodations go, I am staying at a large campground outside the city (that is, on an island outside the city).  When traveling by car across Europe, it is more economical to stay at such places rather than put up with high-priced hotels.  As an Added bonus, the place I am staying now (Marina di Venezia) is so large that it has its own shopping street, tennis court, mini golf, swimming pools, private beaches, ect. ect. ect. that staying there for an afternoon is far from unbearable.

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