When I lived in France, I wanted to take every chance I could to explore Europe. And I mean… Italy is right there! So naturally, Venice had to happen.
This was actually my first real solo trip (aside from, you know, moving to France by myself—haha). I booked an Airbnb with an Italian host family, and from the second they picked me up at the train station, I knew I was in for something special. The mom barely spoke any English, and the daughter spoke the most, but I quickly realized that between my French and a little Spanish, I could kind of understand Italian. Once they caught on, they basically adopted me into their family!
The first night, they invited me to a proper Italian dinner—and let me tell you, it did not disappoint. We spent the evening chatting in a mix of Italian, English, French, and Spanish. It was one of those moments where you’re like, “Yep, this is what travel is all about.” I felt so lucky to be immersed in their culture in such a real, beautiful way.
Then, my host dad offered to take me into downtown Venice on his Vespa. Like, how could I say no to a real Italian Vespa ride?! Granted, he wasn’t exactly Costas from The Lizzie McGuire Movie, but it was still such a thrill—kinda terrifying at times weaving through Italian traffic, but also one of those “never felt so alive” moments.
The best part? I had no plans. No map. Nothing scheduled. I just wandered—me, my camera, and some very happy gelato-filled moments. Venice is one of those cities where getting lost is part of the charm. Roaming canals, discovering hidden corners… it seriously felt like I was in a movie.
And speaking of movies—this film nerd had to check out the spot where Indiana Jones finds the “X marks the spot” in The Last Crusade. Total geek-out moment.
At one point, I found a quiet spot on the steps of this stunning church, just soaking it all in while couples made out all around me. Yep, PDA is very real in Europe. But hey, Venice is one of the most romantic places in the world, and honestly? It’s also one of the best for people-watching.
Eventually, it was time to head back to my Airbnb—and that’s when the real adventure began. I got on a bus that I thought was the right one. Spoiler: it was not. It took me miles away from where I was supposed to be. I got off, tried to ask for directions in my broken Italian (didn’t get far), and thought, “Okay, unexpected detour… let’s just roll with it.” I pulled out my phone, used the world’s most expensive Google Maps search, and slowly but surely made it back home. Could’ve been a disaster, but I kept my cool and treated it like an extra adventure.
After walking what felt like 12 miles that day, I rewarded myself with the biggest calzone of my life. Totally worth it.
I’m so grateful I got to see Venice—especially before, you know, it disappears underwater. This trip gave me a huge confidence boost. I proved to myself that I could travel solo—even to one of the most romantic places in the world—and handle whatever curveballs came my way. I learned that when I put myself out there, I can really connect with people, soak in the culture, and walk away with both life lessons and lifelong memories.
Venice, thank you for the gift of courage, connection, and an absurd amount of gelato.
