Dale S. Rogers

A Must for a First-time Trip to Venice!

Revisado: 11-03-21

Margie Miklas' carefully-constructed audiobook, "The Venice I Know," is a must for first-time travelers to the floating city. Shaped like a fish, Venice is manmade and comprised of 118 islands connected by footbridges. In her own soothing voice, Ms. Miklas covers every aspect of the canals, including transportation, accommodations, sights, and customs. She also discloses tips concerning everything from visiting shops to making masks. She conveys realistic advice, explaining how to most enjoy the charm of the vicinity while avoiding problems. 

As Margie describes the Venetian neighborhoods, she encourages tourists to wander over to the less congested areas and smaller islands. Murano is known for glass blowing and a beautiful sculpture of a blue star, and Burano is famous for lace making and small, colorful houses. It's not unusual for visitors to get lost in Venice, but Margie doesn't see that as much of a problem, since there are so many canals and alleys to explore. Some may equate all of Italy with pizza, but Margie says Venetians don't eat it! However, she did find a tiny, out-of-the-way place with a friendly proprietor and delicious pizza. She describes it as an enjoyable experience. 

One difficulty which occurs several times a year in Venice is the aqua alta. That's when heavy rain causes the canals to rise above their banks and spill onto the cement, flooding the area. Businesses and livelihoods are threatened, and the event can cause great damage, as happened in 2019. The city was shut down for weeks. Anyone in the area should hear a siren up to three hours before this might occur.  

A lover of romantic movies, Margie alludes to several which have been made in the islands, including background information and landmarks involved. She also mentions a secret underground canal and Carnevale--the biggest celebration of the year--as well as other festivals. Venice is like an open-air museum with unique gifts, but it sometimes attracts too many tourists. And while they're necessary for the well-being of the islands, they sometimes cause problems. It helps if people are considerate and careful, remembering that there are also permanent residents. Living on the canals isn't easy, since only groceries which can be carried are usually bought at one time, and nearly everything is done by boat--including moving from one apartment to another. And, while gondolas are a big tourist attraction, it's definitely more practical to take a waterbus. Margie also speaks about the history of Venice and the reason it was founded on water. 

All in all, Margie Miklas' audiobook, "The Venice I Know," is an excellent guide for anyone hoping to traverse to this enchanting place. Restaurants, coffee houses and orchestras are just a few of the treats waiting for visitors to the  floating city, although the prices may occasionally surprise some, especially when diners are charged for the music!

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