Venezia (Venice), Italy

Venice, or Venezia, was one of those places I'd always wanted to go - a city unlike anywhere else in the world, and when I finally got there, it was as picturesque as I?d imagined it would be.

Venice is full of tiny little boardwalks, alleyways, and of course canals. There are almost no roads, except for those leading in and out. I was happy just to wander around taking in the atmosphere, admiring the city and getting thoroughly lost.

I found the gondola rides so overpriced that I didn't bother. Perhaps had I been on a less tight budget I would have indulged, but as it was, I didn't need to be ripped off to appreciate the romantic ambience of Venice!

A trip to Venice wouldn?t be complete without visiting San Marco's Piazza, which was beautiful. Don't forget your camera, and your wallet!

If you haven't been to Italy before, and decide to stop at a café, be aware that there are different prices depending on where you sit or stand. Sitting down to have a coffee is much more expensive than standing at the bar.

I stayed at what was, at the time, the only youth hostel in Venice, on the southern island. This hostel has so many people staying that I felt a bit like cattle in a barn, and while there was nothing wrong with the hostel, I'd recommend you stay at one of the many pensione, or a hotel.

The city is so small that I felt I'd been able to take in the tone of the city in just a short time (I was only there for 2-3 days). Venice is sinking - they say the city might one day be nothing more than a memory. I'm glad that it will at least be part of mine.

Claire.