Checking off yet another city from my list... Venice, the romantic city located in Veneto region of Italy. Few cities can claim such priceless art and history heritage. It is also famous for its carnival celebrations every year and below is a link of the Grand Opening of Venice Carnival 2020 by 'Venezia Autentica' Discover and support the Authentic Venice. 

My journey began on November 15, 2020, a time when tourist were cancelling their flights to Venice and visitors were cutting short their stay due to extreme flooding. 'Acqua Alta' is typically caused by the tides and is usually during a full or new moon. These high tides are usually in the Winter months between November and March, but this year the tide was exceptionally high. It was recorded the highest tide in 50 years and the mayor had to declare a national emergency and close all schools. Venice and its inhabitants found themselves fighting against the fury of the Adriatic Sea and a wind that blew at hundred kilometers an hour. The world will remember Acqua Alta (High Waters) flooding in 2019 which caused hundreds of millions of euros of possibly irreparable damage in Venice.

When I got off the bus at Santa Lucia Railway Station and walked down to the water taxi with my luggage, I felt many locals wondering about my sanity. The bus was the only option from Marco Polo airport due to high water levels all Vaporetto's were cancelled.

Finding a vaporetto to my hotel did not take long as the hotel had texted me the directions along with the exact fare for the trip. The Pesaro Palace was an incredible hotel situated on the water and the staff was very courteous and friendly.

Below is a clip of me wading through the streets of Venice. Most stores were closed and as you will see very few people out and about. 

Streets of Venice - 2019

Due to high tides all tours were cancelled for most of my stay, but on November 18th (my last day) the weather changed. The sun peaked out, the tide behaved and lo and behold the tours started. I quickly signed up online and was able to join the first group headed to Murano, Burano and Torcello. One of the stops on the tour was glass-making demonstration in Murano, home of Europe's most respected glassmakers since the 13th century. Murano Glass is well known around the world and its authentic hand made Murano Glass ranges from $20 all the way into thousand of dollars. Watch the masters at work as they shape and mold glass into amazing objects...

All and all a hectic, but pleasant trip... Will I go back, most definitely!!! 

Watch a slideshow of images captured on my tip of Venice.