Bloc Magazine Spring 15

10 // WWW.BLOCHOTELS.COM It is useful to think of Venice simply as a patchwork of islands connected by many bridges and lined with canals. There is so much to explore. Avoid the over-priced gear being peddled in the shops around the Rialto and seek out quieter corners to shop or eat. Comfy shoes are a must if you hope to survive for a full day pounding the narrow alleyways called ‘calle’. While it is easy to get lost in the winding network or paths, following the many arrows pointing to the main landmarks will allow you to regain your bearings. If you really need to get anywhere in a hurry, then the only option is to take one of the immaculate, wood-trimmed private water taxis. They can be expensive, and it is worth checking the fare before the skipper casts off. But it is the a convenient and dramatic way to travel from Marco Polo airport direct to your hotel. A cheaper option to ride the canals once you have settled in to your hotel is by vaporetto, or water bus. The iconic boats bump regularly from platform to platform along the waterways. A one-day travel card costing 20 euros will allow you to take in every corner of the city and save you an awful lot of shoe leather. Walking Venice will help burn off bundles of calories, so you should right this wrong by stopping regularly at any osteria, serving wine and simple food en route. Venetian cuisine is significantly different from the rest of Italy. The dazzlingly fresh seafood and grilled meats are occasionally teamed teamed up with risotto, or more often polenta. Delicious. Like all of Italy, coffee is the most important drink of the day. And another must is to sample a Venetian macchiatone, This kind of cappuccino, but with less milk, goes perfectly with local delicacies like an almond slice, or ‘pasta con le mandorle’.