Chioggia, Italy

Relax Day No. 2
Sometimes the best days are the ones where you do absolutely nothing—and our first day in Chioggia was one of those. We stayed on board, relaxed, and enjoyed the simple pleasure of going nowhere. A perfect pause in between adventures.

21/07 – Venice, Italy
We caught the shuttle boat from the port into Venice, just over an hour’s ride. As we disembarked, the weather was absolutely hauling down—rain so heavy that crew handed out ponchos and umbrellas just to get us through it. But apparently this is common and by the time we reached the city the skies had cleared, the storm had blown over, and the sun was shining.

We meandered through the pretty little streets, and we were amazed at the sheer size of St Mark’s Square...the architecture, the atmosphere—it was breathtaking. Venice has more than 80 beautiful churches, Basilica di San Marco a standout.

I could have spent hours window shopping, admiring the gorgeous displays of Venetian glass—each piece a little work of art. Sadly, we missed out on a gondola ride; by the time we circled back, the line was an hour long. Instead, we did the next best thing—sat at a little restaurant right on the Grand Canal, watching gondolas glide past while enjoying a bite to eat and a drink. Such a stunning, unforgettable city.

22/07 – Chioggia, Italy
Our final day in Chioggia dawned bright and sunny. We joined a one-hour walking tour of the Old Town, and it truly felt like a miniature Venice—complete with canals, bridges, and colorful facades, but on a smaller, quieter scale.

The town’s main church was beautifully ornate (as so many of the Italian churches we’ve seen are), and here we were actually allowed to take photos. After the tour, we ambled by the canal for lunch—Pete had a Campari spritz, I went for a Limoncello spritz, and we shared a simple but delicious ham, mozzarella, and tomato panini. Pure Italian joy.

Back on board, we finished the day with a couple of icy slushies by the pool before getting ready for dinner. I even squeezed in a quick trip to the salon to repair my broken thumbnail—though at $40 for a single fix, I couldn’t help but gasp! (For that price in Thailand I could get a full shellac manicure!) Sheesh.Read more