Venice

Pros: Picturesque!
Cons: A little dirty and very confusing

Venice was picturesque in every way I had imagined it to be. It was the very fantasy land I grew up dreaming to go to. The canals, the bridges, the gondolas. They were all so romantic and exciting. One thing that kinda caught me off guard was the cleanliness. As far as I understand, the canal are also the sewage drains, which as you could imagine do not leave the city smelling as beautiful as it looks. It is also very confusing and incredibly easy to get lost. With narrow walkways and tall buildings, you could be wandering through the immense maze for hours without a clue of where you are. Bring a friend, and it may help to know the language!

Pros: Very few tourists in March so it was easy to get around and little crowds.
Cons: The presence of gypsies who pick pocket tourists.

Venice is beautiful in that it is on the water, there are historical sites to visit and plenty of shopping. I enjoyed trying the gelato. I liked the gondola ride. The red wine there is excellent and isn't to dry. If you are a collector of art, artists paint and sell their work in the streets or in the squares for good prices. I had a difficult time learning and remembering to speak Italian, but knew a little Spanish. Many Italians also speak Spanish so I was able to still get around. I was taken out on the town by a couple of Italians I met at a restaurant. They were warm and friendly. The only thing to watch for it is high tourist areas, there are gypsies who will try to pick pocket tourists wallets. So make sure you keep your wallet in a place they can't get to and don't set your purse down anywhere.