Venice

Venice without a travel agency

Venice was the last stop of our 2022 summer vacation (we visited Austria, France and finaly Italy). The camping we stayed is called Miramare. We were happy. Camping Miramare has a quality sanitary facilities, washing machine and a dryer (for a fee). One night for four people costs 50 euros.

They even have a small camping supermarket, which is closed during certain hours a day, the prices are higher than in town, but you can use it in case of emergancy.

Ak sa rozhodnete využiť kempingový bazén, dávajte pozor na deti a tínedžerov, ktorí skáču na hlavu ostatným plávajúcim. Pravidlá bezpečného používania bazéna tu majú, ale nikto ich nedodržiava. Voda je v bazéne dosť plytká na plávanie, takže sa budete pravdepodobne oškierať nohami o dno.

There is a supermarket in a town close by the camp, where we bought some snacks and a watermelon.

If you want to have a wifi conection in your camping, you can pay a 3,50 euros fee (for one device) at the reception desk. Those who are staying in Miramare camping can take a bus, that takes them right to the beach.

Venice was the last stop of our 2022 summer vacation (we visited Austria, France and finaly Italy). The camping we stayed is called Miramare.

Boli sme spokojní. Má kvalitné sociálne zariadenia, práčku i sušičku, aj keď za poplatok. Jedna noc tu stála pre štyri osoby 50 eur, čo bolo oveľa akceptovateľnejšie než 90.

They even have a small camping supermarket, which is closed during certain hours a day, the prices are higher than in town, but you can use it in case of emergancy.

Voda je v bazéne dosť plytká na plávanie, takže sa budete pravdepodobne oškierať nohami o dno.

There is a supermarket in a town close by the camp, where we bought some snacks and a watermelon.

Na recepcii sa dá zaplatiť wifi pripojenie, ktoré platí všade v kempingu za 3,50 eur na jedno zariadenie.

Návštevníci ubytovaní v kempingu, mimochodom aj tu nás označkovali plastovými náramkami, môžu využiť modrý autobus, ktorý spred kempingu jazdí až na pláž.

Ferryboat is a walking distance away from camping and will take you straight to Venice. Face mask are mandatory during this cruise.

What looks like a area covered with seaweed is actually a sand.

Gondoliers were all lined up and ready to take any tourists. Despite gondola rides being a huge attraction in Venice, the number of gondoliers is much higher than the actual demand.

All the stalls with souvenirs and venecian masks were very tempting.

Of course, the biggest machos under the sun were sellers of a cold drinking water (or at least they looked like it), who asked ridiculous prices for a small bottle of water.

We walked to St Mark's Basilica, which is attached to the Doge's Palace. There is Torre dell’Orologio nearby, a building with a moon clock. The figurines at the top move to the rythm of clock hands strike.

There´s no way you can navigate through the narrow streets of Venice without GPS. Everybody seems to use canals as a main way of transportation, including supply boats, police and rescue service.

It happens that even after an hour of marching, you see nothing that sugests that this town is even inhabited, since buildings look abandoned and damaged. But then comes an alley with tons of shops and stalls with goods from traditional artists, although some of them were most likely cheap imitations made for gullible tourists. It seems that most Venicians live out of tourism.

Food and drinks were even more expensive than in Janov and Florence, but that´s what we expected. We bought 2 slices of pizza nonetheless. One with spinach and the other one with french fries on top (an interesting, but tasty combination).

They offered a wide variety of sandwiches as well, but many looked like they were just slapped together carelessly and thrown on a pile. We can make those very easily at home.

Some venician streets and alleys smell like urine and vomit. We got the same feeling about Janov too. However, we must admit, that despite its many flaws, Venice has its own speciall charm and is still considered to be a romantic travel destination. Venician markets benefit not only people, but also hungry seagulls. Fishermen threw leftover cuts of fish to seagulls. Some stores sell not only handpainted masks but also costumes.

We didn´t enjoy Calzone pastry. The one we had was overbaked, chewy and lacking enough filling.

We saw an artist working on a painting in one of the alleys.

Z kempingu sa dá prejsť napešo ku kompe, ktorá vás odvezie až do Benátok. Rúška sú počas plavby povinné.

Strážnik, ktorý dohliadal na dodržiavanie tohto pravidla mal aj malý slovníček špeciálne s frázou „Masky sú povinné“ v rôznych jazykoch.

What looks like a area covered with seaweed is actually a sand.

Gondoliers were all lined up and ready to take any tourists. Despite gondola rides being a huge attraction in Venice, the number of gondoliers is much higher than the actual demand.

All the stalls with souvenirs and venecian masks were very tempting.

Of course, the biggest machos under the sun were sellers of a cold drinking water (or at least they looked like it), who asked ridiculous prices for a small bottle of water.

Popri nábreží sme prešli až ku Bazilike sv. Marka. Tá sa nachádza pri Dóžovom paláci.

Obďaleč stojí Torre dell’Orologio, budova s mesačnými hodinami. Postavičky na vrchu budovy sa počas odbíjania hodín hýbu do rytmu zvona.

Benátske uličky sú úzke, kľukaté a chaotické. Bez GPS nemáte šancu. Všetci tu na dopravu používajú kanály.

Na kanáloch chodia nielen výletné lode, ale aj zásobovanie, polícia a záchranná služba.

Niekedy sa stáva, že aj po hodine pochodovania nevidíte nič, čo by naznačovalo, že mestečko je vôbec obývané, keďže budovy vyzerajú schátrané a opustené.

Zrazu vás však prekvapí ulička celá posiata obchodíkmi a stánkami s výrobkami od tradičných umelcov, aj keď niektoré z nich boli pravdepodobne iba lacné imitácie pre turistov, ktorí nie sú schopní rozpoznať rozdiel.

Väčšina Benátčanov žije, ako sa zdá, z turizmu.

Jedlo a pitie tu bolo ešte drahšie než v Janove a Florencii, ale to sme čakali.

Napriek tomu sme si však kúpili trojuholník pizze. Jedna bola špenátová a druhá s hranolkami – zaujímavá, ale aj chutná kombinácia.

They offered a wide variety of sandwiches as well, but many looked like they were just slapped together carelessly and thrown on a pile. We can make those very easily at home.

Some venician streets and alleys smell like urine and vomit. We got the same feeling about Janov too.

Napriek svojim nedokonalostiam sa však Benátky považujú za romantickú destináciu. Pár, ktorý sa tu rozhodol osláviť svadbu by určite súhlasil.

Venician markets benefit not only people, but also hungry seagulls. Fishermen threw leftover cuts of fish to seagulls.

Some stores sell not only handpainted masks but also costumes.

We didn´t enjoy Calzone pastry. The one we had was overbaked, chewy and lacking enough filling.

We saw an artist working on a painting in one of the alleys.

author of the text and photographs: Miroslava Pavlinská
www.miragrafik.sk | webdesign, graphic design and photography