Destination: Venice
by James Langford

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In Italia, excuse my exuberance with the language, dining is a moment to be experienced, with friends, loved ones, relatives and even people you may have met standing in a queue. But, I digress.

This past summer, my wife and I took our first trip to Italy and our first excursion to Venice. If you’re interested in the history of countries and cultures, as I am, Venice can consume your soul.

When we arrived at the farmhouse we had rented in Tuscany and started mapping out where, how and when we were going, Venice was at the top of the list. But, the trip was moved to the second week we were there. Looking at the map I started thinking: a nice romantic drive along the Adriatic coast, a picnic lunch overlooking the sea, arriving in Venice just in time to check into our hotel and have a fantastic dinner at a very nice restaurant.

However, logic prevailed. A poll taken of the members of the family at the farmhouse decided that was the wrong thing to do.

So, we made a more intelligent decision. We took an eight a.m. train to Firenze, where we connected with a fast train to Venezia and arrived safe and sound in the afternoon.

You do not drive to Venice. You make yourself someone else’s responsibility.

If you drive, you are restricted to parking your car, van, station wagon or SUV across from the isle in a huge parking lot and taking a train across the water.

A word of warning – and most of the brochures and travel guides that are provided for Venice will mention this fact. Security is not that great, and your vehicle may or may not be there when you return, or it may not be in the condition you left it. Which is why train or air travel into Venice is best.

As I have mentioned before, there are a lot of people traveling in Europe during the summer, especially students. And they are much sturdier and more able to adapt to changing travel situations than you or I. Please make reservations in advance for your clients where and when you can, or advise them to do so. You can save them time, money, and they will love you forever.

Also, there is an Internet web site that lists accommodations that have just become available within the next 24 hours. Just access Venice on the web.

We booked a room the day before we left and the result was perfect. We wound up with a suite in the annex of the Bauer Hotel, which is huge, offers wonderful service, a large morning buffet and fronts a large piazza, backs onto one of the major canals, and is approximately a block and a half from the Piazza San Marco, for what we considered an excellent (relatively inexpensive) price.

The one thing I love about Italy is every town or city is the same, but different. When you walk into the major piazza, whether it is Cortona, Siena, Florence, Rome, Venice or Perugia, you are walking in your ancestors’ footsteps.

In Florence, the Duomo is so big you’re totally overwhelmed by the size of the structure. In Siena, you’re flabbergasted, not only at the size of the piazza but at the slope of the surface. While I have seen tapes of the events, it is amazing that twice a year they race horses there. Cortona and Perugia are cozy, because they’re small.

In Venice, is peace.

Everything, structurally, is in harmony.

How do you fall in love with a city? In Venice, it is so easy. Everything is in balance in the San Marco Piazza. It is the center of the city. Aesthetically, it is extremely pleasing to the eye. From wherever you stand, and, from wherever you enter.

Pigeons occupy the San Marco Piazza. My wife, who loves any animal or bird, went absolutely bonkers. She loved it. All kids love it. We have pictures of my spouse with at least 5, if not 7 or 9 birds, perched on her arms, shoulders and legs. We also have an interesting shot of a pigeon that decided to take a rest, perched on my hat.

After touring the Basilica at the end of the square and browsing through all the high-end shops, we took a small break for some liquid refreshment in one of the restaurants around the square. There was a small orchestra playing right outside the restaurant and as we came out they started playing a tango. I immediately took my wife in my arms, said ‘shall we dance,’ and we did a tango in the piazza, creating a photo opportunity for some 25-30 Japanese tourists, who also were kind enough to applaud our efforts at the end.

That evening, since all the shops remain open until late, we shopped and wandered the tiny byways and sideways of Venice.

As I have said, I never had a bad meal in Italy. For dinner, we decided on a simple little restaurant that had maybe 12 tables. And, it didn’t have a name. There was just a little sign that said ristorante.

The owner and chef, and his wife, both served out table. I had the best bowl of soup – teeming with fresh vegetables -- I have ever had in my life as an appetizer. My entrée was a veal piccata that absolutely melted in your mouth. My wife had pasta e fagioli as an appetizer and a fillet that she still raves about.

The next day we caught a water taxi to the island of Murano, which was a must activity for us. We shopped and toured several of their famous glass-blowing facilities. We eventually bought a pair of fighting stallions, 10-12 inches high, that are a deep black in the head and front quarters, phasing into a blue tint in the hind quarters with gold flecks in the manes, tails and hooves. It was our major vacation purchase. They are beautiful, we had them shipped home and they now stand in a place of honor.

As a traveler, I have discovered that time and scheduling is all-important. Package tours are wonderful, because everything is already booked for you and the experience is seamless. But, for your clients who like to explore on their own, some advance planning is essential.

We only spent a day and a half in Venice. It is easily worth 3-4 days. There is much to experience, much to see and it truly is one of the most unique cities in our world.

Jim Langford is the president of the Pharmer Group, a communications consulting firm based in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.