In the cold month of February comes St Valentine’s Day, the 14th, with skeleton trees in parks and plants shrivelled away by frost. It seems a strange season to celebrate romance, but I saved this pretty picture post for when winter should be stirring with thoughts of spring.
In December I was whisked away for a birthday surprise to Venice. John had planned the trip in secret, revealing our destination last-minute at the airport. I was so excited – Venice, an impossible city floating on the water, just a few hours away by plane.
John is a seasoned traveller, but even he was struck by the uniqueness of Venice. Our boat bus took us past brightly coloured buildings along the canals, water seeping in doors and lapping at shuttered windows. The city, said to be founded with the dedication of the first church at the stroke of noon on 25 March 421, is built on 117 islands linked by bridges across waterways.
We stayed at Piazzo St Marco, the main public square with gulls flying over the famous Basilica during the day and fairy lights illuminating passage ways at night. Walking in Venice is the best way to get around the little streets and bridges. It is a quieter place in winter with fewer tourists and, of course, no cars. Breakfast views of early morning gondolas to night-time scenes of beautiful moonlit palaces, Venice is a jewel of old world charm, art and architecture, culture and history. Here’s our holiday highlights…
As travellers we felt welcomed by the local culture and traditional way of life.
Of course, we had to do the tourist thing.
How’s this for romance? The house where George Clooney married Amal Alamuddin.
A short island hop took us from the main city to Murano, a beautiful paradise of rainbows and glass.
And twilight had so many colours mirrored in the skies and seas.
Venice by night is magical, like stepping back in time. I felt truly spoiled – thank you John for the most wonderful birthday surprise!
We needed only a few days to become familiar and fascinated by Venice. Flying away from the city of water and light, John found a video that explained: How does Venice work? Enjoy watching Venice backstage…
Mrs Apis Mellifera 
Thanks for a bright spot on a another stormy day.
Some winter sunshine to start the week! 🙂
What a fantastic surprise!
Thank you, I’m happy to share my surprise here!
You have capture Venice beautifully !! 🙂
Thank you!
Just beautiful. I really like the idea of no cars. Venice hadn’t appealed to me before, but seeing your photos has changed my mind.
Oh yes, it is a magical place but best visited late autumn to early spring.
A collection of diverse and truly inspired photos of most wonderful birthday surprise. If I had to pick just one, it would be the photo where the moon seems to balance atop one of the church spires.
Thank you – I like the Venetian cat. All of Venice is a picture postcard every street you turn.
Beautiful post, it brought me back to my time in Venice, many years ago. I’d live to revisit this beautiful plane 🙂
Thank you Kristina, it is a far more beautiful place than I had imagined. Murano was simply enchanting. We were told winter was the best time to visit as it is so busy in summer, though we were lucky it didn’t rain or flood. Happy to bring back good memories 🙂
Super pictures – Venice is on our To Do List – maybe in a couple of years, fingers crossed
I do hope you get to go. I didn’t see many bees (winter) but there must be lots of invertebrate wildlife in the water! Also, great people, great food, and fantastic fun!
I hear that it can be quite smelly?
A stewardess said it was like a bog in summer, but then London doesn’t smell as fresh as daisies in summer either. We prefer going on holiday out of season – cheaper and less crowds, also better for my beekeeping!
Thanks for giving me a flavour of your wonderful trip. I have only ever been there once but I was too young to appreciate the uniqueness of Venice.
It was strange to notice the absence of traffic sounds – apart from boats and people – it made the city feel so peaceful to our ears!
Emma your surprise romantic gift trip to Venice looked awesome! Your photos are exquisite, showing all sorts of beautiful aspects of this unique city, great light, great scenes, and great clarity. Thanks for sharing this lovely trip. 🙂
I’m happy you enjoyed it Jet – Venice, the people, the food, all so wonderful 🙂
Beautiful pictures and informative video! Looks like you had a great time! Would love to visit someday!
I’m glad you liked the video – it made me appreciate the clever engineering of the early Venetians and how many of the same principles are used now, particularly the idea of how they are constantly maintaining the city. Amazing!
Your photos of Venice are beautiful, and is a city I hope to visit one day. It really is a city caught in time. I cannot imagine not having a car, but it certainly has that romantic feel.
Venice oozes romance but in a refreshing way. I do hope you get to go, I’d love to see your photos in Venice, Donna 🙂
A beautiful surprise and now you have magnificent photographs to keep the memory warm. The photographs really are great, it was lovely that you saw it in bright weather in the winter. Amelia
We were so lucky with the weather. Bright sunshine every day and water levels were low, people said, so we could do gondola rides beneath bridges and walk in streets without wellies! Thanks Amelia, I’m glad you enjoyed it.
Glad you had a great time. Nice pics, EST. I can never ever look at photo of Venice without immediately wanting to be there. But seeing it is the next best thing! RH
Thanks RH! I’m currently shivering at home with full-on flu so looking at Venice pics are cheering me up too 🙂
What a wonderful surprise and romantic interlude.. Loved all your photo shares Emma too.. loved my journey along with you.. 🙂