Venetian waters

The Paris syndrome is known as the sickness where Asians - mostly Japanese people - become so depressed that they try committing suicide when they see that Paris is bigger, dirtier and louder that they expected, and not at all the romantic paradise they imagined from movies. Did I feel this way about Venice?

No. But I have to admit I was a bit reluctant going there - when everyone claims something is wonderful, I almost always get disappointed. And the truth is that I had been warned (by several men) to go single to Venice, because the romance in the air would make me feel alone... Well, that wasn't a problem either.

I only spent one and a half day in the city, and assuming you don't want to go to every museum and see every detail of every piece of architecture there is to admire, that is actually enough. Venice is probably perfect for a weekend away.

The famous Piazza de San Marco I honestly found more grand and impressive than truly beautiful. But what I did enjoy was the opportunity to catch yet another view from above - going up the free standing church tower to overlook the city was amazing.

The city is indeed as romantically old and beuatiful as you would expect - but it is also quite worn down, and quite repetitive. After a while you feel like you have gotten the full hang of things - tiny street, piazza, church, canal, piazza, church, canal... and so on.

And apart from the beautiful views, the city does not really have a lot more to offer. Being probably the most touristy place I have ever visited (Paris, Rome and Amsterdam are far behind here), the only thing you can do apart from sightseeing is super expensive, very luxurious shopping.

For a day on my own, though, just walking around enjoying the sunshine and taking photographs of nice views, it did live up to my expectations. The city is actually small and perfectly walkable, so no need to buy the overly expensive visitor's tickets for the boats. But walking here is good exercise - every now and then you would have to do a little stairway up on and over a little bridge, and even more often you would have to turn around, walk back and try a different street because you hit one of all the little blind alleyways suddenly ending by a crossing canal.

Venice is definitely worth seeing, but for cities on water I must say I prefer Amsterdam... not only because it is my second home town, but also because of the much greater diversity and variety, the cultural vibe and - of course - the Dutch gezelligheid ("coziness").

So Venice, I am glad I came to see you, but I don't think I will miss you very much.