Before going ahead, here are some of the latest updated material related to current web site:
(I)A recap of all my reviews of Montreal's finest bistrots & fine dining ventures
(II)My 3 and 2 Star Michelin web site 
(III)Latest updated restaurant reviews:ABROAD:
-Meal at 3 star Michelin Dal Pescatore (June 14th 2012)-Meal at 3 Star Michelin Le Calandre (June 16th 2012)IN MONTREAL:
-Meal at Maison Boulud (May 31st 2012)(IV) SEE ALSO: the report on Cinque Terre, Milan & Parma.
Your humble Montreal gourmand dropped by Venice on June 16th since my meal at
Le Calandre was relatively close. It's not my first time in Italy, but my first in Venice. Instead of indulging in the common public relationship's write-up style that we all can profusely peruse over the web, I went with a more 'down to earth' straight-to-the point approach'. To each, their own
Usually, when you see a dispatch with such title as "is xxx overrated", you would naturally anticipate frustration from the dispatcher and I would anticipate the usual reactions like 'why don't you just enjoy Venice..instead of nitpicking, Rfaol! Not to worry: wherever I go, I think about my enjoyment first and do fully appreciate my time however things go. You certainly do not invest your hard earned money in nitpicking. But for the constructive sake of guiding people in the more accurate way, I'd rather write about all sides of the theme.
Do not judge hastily, my conclusion of this dispatch might not be what you thought in the first place, and with those carefully selected infos that I am sharing with you, your trip there might be optimized.
I have always maintained that if I had to write something, I may as well do it differently. And more importantly, my own way, regardless of what people might think. Therefore, I'll spare you the same refrain about Venice's landmarks: the world already knows that you need to lose yourself in its canals, that it's supposed to be one of the most romantic places on earth, that there are two train stations you need to be informed about (Santa Lucia Train Station which is the one you need to take in order to get to the most interesting parts of Venezzia --its name in Italian--, the car-free historic center with its endless canals and popular sites like
Piazza San Marco, and then you have a second train station, that is Venezzia Mestre which is the hub to the automobile-friendly part of Venezzia) and that Venice...well, it is also the
Venice that can make you dream, as well....
I am more interested to cover an aspect of Venezzia that over-optimism and unecessary need to make travel reports beautiful at all cost....do usually and sadly lure us away from: what if Venezzia was a big tourist trap? Is Venezzia overrated? Some people thing so, and yet millions of people flock to Venezzia. The following might help us a bit into unveiling the latter dilemma.
Tourist trap? All places that are popular with tourists do naturally suffer from this. It's, to me, utterly normal and if you ignore that reality, then you'll be hurt in Venezzia, because for all the buzz created around its image of one of world's most romantic places, you might perhaps --SEE next section to understand why I am writing 'you might perhaps' as opposed to 'you will' ---, once there, find the ideal of romance be replaced by a very busy ambience of hordes of tourists flocking in all directions, and lots of people approaching you with the expected need to offer you services (come on my
gondola, eat at my restaurant, but your souvenirs at my shop).
So Venezzia, not romantic at all? Of course, we all have our ideal of what a romantic place might look like. But I think that it is absolutely wrong to let the busy nature of Venice and its hordes of tourists make Venice appear as less romantic. What about doing this: (1) if you land at Venice's Marco Polo Airport, take a mean of water transport up to Venice's historic areas. Although it might appear overpriced at first glance (slightly more than 100 euros), you might get an initial enjoyable perception of Venice this way (2)wander in Venice historic area's canals and streets early in the morning, way before 9am. (3)I found Venice to be visually more enjoyable from its waters, so perhaps this is how to get the best out of your journey in Venice. (4)I'd doubt that a gondola ride though the interior canals --- as opposed to just the grand canal -- late at sunset (not at night..since you just can't see much anyways and it would make the ride as equally exciting to a night ride on any waters anywhere else) with your sweet half would not fit with the classic ideal of a romantic moment
What would I avoid in Venice? Eating at their restaurants, terraces in the historic area. It's ..as you might expect...way too $$$ for what's delivered. I would also avoid visiting Venice without having initially read a lot about its history and valuable architectures. Failing to do so make it worthless to visit
Venice since you won't appreciate the great depth of historical material behind what shall be displayed before your eyes. And if you can't stand people...lots..lots...lots of people, well do not go!
Hope this helps in making your stay in Venice more enjoyable,
Aromes
