The Long Trip Home: Venice in an Hour

You might think me crazy, for my only trip to Venice lasted little more than an hour. I didn't even see St. Mark's Square. How could I be so ignorant? Call yourself a traveller, I can hear you saying! Well yes I do. Sadly, however, my itinerary dictated otherwise that day and meant catching an onward train connection to Trieste that afternoon, on my only trip to Italy to date.

As the train passed over the causeway to Venice earlier that afternoon, I had studied a map of the city, deciding whether I could realistically see anything of the place, and find lunch, in the short time I had. Is it possible to do a place justice by sprinting around, barging unsuspecting tourists out of the way just for a glimpse of something famous? I didn't know the answer.

Upon arriving I grabbed my bag and dashed out onto the platform, finding my way to the front of the station. Such a drab, concrete structure does not belong in this city, but it is soon forgotten when presented with the Grand Canal, glistening in the afternoon sun. The time was mid-July and Venice buzzed with activity, from waiters scurrying around restaurant terraces to tourists moving in groups, following their guide's raised flag.

With no time to waste I crossed the bridge, bounding straight for the first side street - or rather canal - that I came to. It was perfect. The tiny green canal was lined with small boats underneath each doorway. Locals carried bags of groceries along the walkway, while the laughter of a group on a rooftop terrace echoed along the waterway.

Time was passing fast, and I though that maybe I was marvelling too much at the first few metres of the city instead of venturing further. I felt like I was losing too many minutes to warrant trying to see any more of the city, so with a sigh, and a bit of hesitation, I turned back in the direction of the station.

Locals carried bags of groceries along the walkway, while the laughter of a group on a rooftop terrace echoed along the waterway.

Finding myself outside a perfect little cafe which took up the corner of a building along a quiet, smaller canal street, I sat at one of the tables that lined the edge of the already narrow walkway. A waiter soon arrived.

Choosing a plate of pasta and a glass of wine, this perfect setting occupied the last thirty minutes of my trip to Venice. On this quiet canal the tourist throng wasn't as heavy, yet there were enough people milling by to allow me the simple pleasure of people watching. The weather was just right: warm breezes but not too much sun. The buildings around me were exactly the Venice I had imagined.

It is not always necessary to be introduced to a city by seeing the sights and following the crowd. Sometimes it is more interesting to see a place from a different perspective, vowing to join the throngs on another visit. Venice may be one of the most visited cities in Europe, and in the height of summer it is rare to find a square metre to stand on. Yet those perfect moments that define a place, that leave its image in your memory for years to come, are not lost. You can find them still - even if a visit only lasts an hour.