After a very early start from Stanstead we arrive in Venice Treviso, to the fan fairs of the Ryan Aeroplane landing on time. We find the connecting coach that drops you to the city and is a very reasonable price of 9euros return. We could see Venice in the distance and we crossed the long road/bridge to the awaited destination. We were dropped in the coach park at the top of the city and were then left to explore and to find our hotel. The hustle and bustle of the coach park seemed a life time away once we had turned the corner and found ourselves walking down a quiet street with the glimpse of our first canal. We continued pulling our suitcases behind us past cute, little Italian restaurants and the locals sitting outside their houses. Just as quick as we had found this area, we stumbled across the main boat station, where you could buy your passes for the hop on boat down the Grand Canal. We bought our passes and boarded the very busy boat, and tried to figure out which one was our stop. We looked on in ore at the magnificent buildings, and the magical feeling that Venice gives off. We found our stop in the San Polo region, and found ourselves negotiating with locals and tourists to find the way to our b+b. The little alleys where adorable, and reminded me of Brighton Lanes. The shops where filled with local tradition and food a plenty. We turned off to find our b+b hidden away. It was a family run business and we had the cutest little room, with access to the kitchen, and it seemed just perfect. We freshened up before heading out to see the sights. The weather was really warm, and as the summer season was dwindling down, it wasn't overly busy. We grabbed our travel book and started to walk around. We weren't sure what we wanted to see, but we walked up the Grand Canal, to find our accommodation was mere minutes from the Grand Rialto Bridge. We stood and watched as the water boats and Gondolas went buy with excited tourists. There where market stools and shops on the bridge and they were all selling Venetian masks, of all colours and sizes. They are traditionally worn at the Carnival of Venice, but date back to the 18th Century. The Rialto Bridge is a famous landmark in Venice and from a distance looks amazing, but once close the walls are covered in graffiti, there are beggars on the steps and it is overly crowed with tourists. We continued our walk through the main shopping streets. All the buildings are made of stone, and they accommodate the world's leading shop brands, and I even spotted my first McDonalds' sign. We grabbed some ice cream and continued our walk through the streets. We found ourselves down the bottom of Venice in the San Marco region, and passed through busy squares filled with restaurants with tourists soaking up the rays, and local artists displaying their traditional landscape paintings. We had a look inside the Opera house, and even considered buying tickets, but decided that we would come back when we are older for this experience. We headed further south and we were suddenly passing all the designer shops, including Gucci and Armani, we had a feeling we were close to the famous Piazza San Marco (St Marks Square). The square it's self is quite a size, and is buzzing with people from all over the world. You are surrounded by walking tour groups of all ages, and everyone taking pictures. There was a photographer in the middle of the square taking cheesy professional photos, and I was adamant that before we left we would get some done. The square is also full of pigeons, and everyone is having photo opportunities by running through the birds or holding out bird feed so they fly on them. Located in the Square are St Marks Basilica and the Campanile. The queues where massive to get up the tower, so we left it and settled with pictures from the ground. I had been reading about the Lido in the travel book, so we decided to hop on the water bus that takes you across the lagoon. The aim was to find the beach, but we got so lost that we ended up walking up and down random streets. It definitely felt more of a local place, but we finally found the beach. It was nothing impressive, just a beach with many Italians basking in the sunlight. There was a beach wedding reception going, but it didn't really seem right to be there. So we headed all the way back to where our hotel was and decided we really needed to eat. The sun was setting and we found an Italian restaurant on the Grand Canal, looking up at the Rialto Bridge. It was amazing. We ordered plenty of wine and spag bowl and watched the sun go down. Afterwards we found the cutest little square just moments from our hotel, so we ended up drinking the night way with sparkling Rose in the warm moonlight.

Day 2 starts with the B+B owner bringing us Breakfast in bed, with fruit juices, Tea, croissant, yoghurt and toast. It was the perfect way to start the day. We were soon up and ready for the day. We decided to head over the Grand Canal, and explore northern region of Cannaregio. It was so peaceful walking up the deserted lanes, with the sun beaming down. As it was Sunday there where early church services going on, but it seemed clear we were in a residential area of the city, and the buildings looked more run down. We decided to head over the water to the famous islands Murano and Burano. We stopped at Murano first and had a stroll into the main canal. Murano has become famous for their glass making, and there are hundreds of local shops selling impressive glass, shaped as anything you can think off. They range anything from 1euro up to the thousands. It felt really calm and quaint when we were walking around, but maybe it was because it was Sunday. We soon found a restaurant to fill up in, and I think we both went for traditional Lasagne. Once watered and fed we jumped on the Waterbus that took us further across the lagoon to the island of Burano. This island is best known for its small and brightly coloured houses, and is popular with artists. We had a good look around, and took some pictures. The locals where milling around, and everyone's washing was hanging out the windows. Around the boat stop there were plenty of tourist stalls selling lots of different items in lace. We then headed back to the main land of Venice, and strolled down towards St Marks Square as I secretly wanting to get the cheesy photos done. We had an amazing celebrity spot on the way down courtesy of Si. He spotted Rihanna in a Gondola with her entourage. We couldn't believe it, so we sprinted around the corner to try and get a snap, but she spotted us and ended up hiding. So with that excitement we continued our stroll. Once in the square we took in the sights once again, and watched as the sailors strolled in canon through the centre of the square flashing their cheeky smiles and watched dining tourists being serenaded by small bands. I then managed to persuade Si to partake in some cheesy photo ops, and ended up purchasing 3 stunners for the photo album. As we had had such an incredible evening the night before we decided to head back to the Grand Canal for some dinner by sunset. We chose a different restaurant this time, slightly closer to the bridge and watched the sun go down whilst drinking our rose wine. We then headed back to our favourite square for more wine. There was music playing out of the bars, and we managed to grab a table to chat and drink the night away amongst the other tourists and locals. Afterwards we attempted to follow the signs to the local jazz club, but we found another bar instead, and stayed for another drink. By this time we were pretty merry and ended up skipping back up to bed to prepare for our last day in Venice.

Our last day starts with a stroll around the area of San Polo, to find the local Monday market at the side of the Grand Canal. We take in the colours and smells and purchase some strawberries to nibble on whilst we stroll over the bridge. We hop back on the water bus that takes us down the Grand Canal, past St Marks Square and too the Castello region of Venice. We jumped of the bus and had a lovely stroll through the park, and took in views of the vast lagoon and mainland Venice in the distance.We found a touristy street and picked up some ciabatta and crisps for lunch, and scoffed down some amazing ice cream from the local parlour. We headed back to St Marks and sat in a cute little park and chilled out and took in the sun. Once rested, we strolled all the way back up to the Rialto Bridge. I was adamant that I wanted to find the McDonalds', so we went on a search following the M signs. We come onto a much broader path, and we seem to be away from the canals. We pass a wedding party, and then I find the Modern McDonalds' and end up having a cheeky cheeseburger, just to say I had one in Venice. Our time was running out, so we manage to get back on the bus to take us back to our hotel to check out and grab our luggage. We managed to grab some souvenirs, before getting the bus back to the airport for our flight home.