Venice - Living Legend or Tourist Trap?

Venezia, is a love it or hate it destination. OK, maybe love/hate is a little strong. But, there doesn’t seem to be much middle of the road opinion. Everyone I know who has been to Venice either can’t wait to return, or swear they’ll never go back.

I am a lover. I find it captivating. The history is fascinating – from its Roman origins, through its cruel medieval era, its excellence as a thriving Renaissance period, to designated UNESCO heritage site. Art and architecture to die for – Piazza San Marco, Basilica, Doge’s Palace, Italian opera houses. Not to mention the entire city is built over water. Plus, it’s a foodie heaven – Northern Italian cooking and wines, even if cuttlefish isn’t your thing. (Cuttlefish is both a required and an acquired taste!)

The best part about Venice is getting lost. It is so easy to get lost. The city has no apparent street plan. The streets are narrow (the narrowest is 21 inches wide!), unmarked and intertwined with the infinite canals. If you move just a couple of streets away from the piazza, you’ll find small shops, cafes, gelato stands, and restaurants all intermingled and with a local flavor, as opposed to the chain stores found near St. Mark’s Square. They crisscross and meander and before you know it, you are lost. People are friendly and helpful to point you back in the right direction. The city is small enough that no matter how lost you get, you aren’t too far from home.

Yes, the city struggles with the balance of kitschy tourism and cultural icon. Some days the Piazza San Marco can become so crowded with tourists that there isn’t even room for the resident pigeons!  But, the touristy things are also part of its charm. As I’ve mentioned in previous articles, being a tourist isn’t a bad thing. We travel to experience and sometimes we want to experience what we’ve read about or heard about from others. i.e. gondola rides, crossing (and posing on) the Rialto Bridge, and coffee on the Piazza San Marcos to name a few.

Example: my friends and I decided to take a coffee break and indulge in some pigeon watching at Piazza San Marco. Café choices abounded around the plaza. We decided on one that wasn’t too crowded and inquired about pricing and seating. Price for an espresso inside – two euros. Price for an espresso outside on the plaza? Twelve euros. We paid!

Are you ready to return to Venice or experience it for the first time? Or is it your idea of a tourist trap?

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European River Wine Cruises

Cruising, whether ocean or river, is becoming more and more niche based.

The niche size varies from huge demographic groups (think family targeted mass-market cruising such as Carnival or Royal Caribbean) to very specific such as yachting the Galapagos Islands. Some niches are voyage or itinerary specific, such as the Christmas Markets or Tulip river cruises.

Today I’d like to focus on European River Wine Cruises. The combination of medieval Europe exploration with the history and atmosphere of European wine-making is captivating. This growing specialty of river cruising is increasing in popularity and appeals to all levels of wine “connoisseurs”.

I mean, really. How expert do you need to be to enjoy biking through French vineyards, going on a “truffle treasure hunt”, or learning the ideal pairing of French chocolate and a Bordeaux wine at a chocolatier's shop? Just a few examples of some of the activities available with these wine focused river cruises.

But, on the other hand, if you are a wine aficionado, imagine sampling Bordeaux wines in a wine cellar in Saint-Emilion, Bordeaux or a Moselle wine while admiring the turrets of a Rhineland castle?!

And it’s not just the traditional wine regions of France and Germany that have wine focused agendas. Cruise the Douro River and enjoy Spanish and Portuguese wines, as well as learning more about Port making in Porto. Or navigate the Po River from Venice to Bologna while indulging in Italian wines and delicacies.

Some wine cruises are itinerary specific such as cruising thru Burgundy from Avignon to Lyon or exploring the Bordeaux region winding along three different rivers in the valley. Alternatively, traditional itineraries with an added wine and culinary focus and including a guest expert such as a winery owner vineyard manager on board are also available.

These specialized wine cruises are fabulous for small to medium groups. Whether your group is expert or a new-to-wine experiment, these are a great way to experience the sights, sounds, and tastes of old-world Europe.

Prego!

Wherever I travel, I try to learn a few basic words or phrases in the language of the country I’m visiting. I’m not a linguist. In fact, when it comes to foreign languages I’m “tone deaf”. Well intended, but abysmal at pronunciation. Sometimes I feel I’m causing more confusion with my poor language skills than if I didn’t try at all! In spite of my impairment, I have learned a few new words over the years. Some have even stuck with me past my travels.

My favorite word, so far, is “Prego!”

Isn’t that a great word? It can express so many different things and yet it is just an everyday word in Italy. It’s one of those words that doesn’t really translate exactly. But, it works so well in so many situations. I think the word most similar in the US is “okay”.

“Okay” can mean agreement, acknowledgment, enthusiasm or sarcasm depending on the situation. “Prego” is like that. But, “okay” seems dull compared to “Prego”. And, “Prego” seems to have more uses.

Maybe it’s that fabulous accent that goes with it. Or the ambience? After all, everything looks, tastes, and sounds better in Italian, right?  I don’t know, but I fell in love with “Prego!”

• “Thank you for helping me.”
  • “Prego!” Your welcome.
•  “Do you have tables available for lunch?”
  • “Prego!” Come in. Have a seat.
• “Look, there’s a parking space right up front.”
  • “Prego!” Outstanding.
• “I know I’m not supposed to drink cappuccino in the afternoon, but I’m dying to try one.”
  • “Prego!” Whatever. (This may or may not be accompanied with an eye roll, depending on the sincerity of the speaker!)

What is your favorite word that just works for any situation?

Travel Style Part 3 - Custom Itineraries

Custom itineraries are wonderful for small to medium (10 – 100) groups with a shared interest or passion. Unlike pre-packaged tours, the itinerary is designed to your group’s specifications and only your group’s members participate in the experiences. You aren’t a piece of a larger group.

Are you a gourmet or wine club? Maybe you’d like to visit Tuscany and include cooking and pasta making or wine tasting and blending in the vineyards as part of your experience. How about learning to make parmigiana and the best time to press olives?

Is your group a hiking club? Want to hike the Incan trail when you go to Machu Picchu? Or scale Kilimanjaro while in Tanzania?

Are you in charge of fundraising for the local symphony? Maybe a tour of Austria that includes performances of the Vienna Philharmonic, the Vienna Boys Choir, and the Salzburg Philharmonic with a visit to Mozart’s home would appeal to your donors.

Is your family wanting to return to their roots for bonding and shared history? How about a trip to the church where many of your ancestors married and were buried?

I’m sure you get the idea. Virtually any destination or adventure can be customized for your group. It does take an extraordinary amount of planning to detail out the experiences, itineraries, transportation, etc. with the interests and size of the group. But, you have an expert (me) to help you out!

Where would you like to go and what would you like to do with your favorite group of travelers?