This was a totally bipolar experience. I loved the city and the scenery and even the food at the restaurant we ate at. But the chaos/crampness made me feel like Venice is a total toursit trap, which it is. I did ended up buying a Murano glass wine stopper. These glass shops are everywhere, literally take two steps an you see a new glass shop. They had really lovely designs, and I rarely like to spend money on glass(even on camera lens) but it was very beautiful piece of glass. I had to try pasta at Italy, and we went into a restaurant and tried their squid ink pasta. It was really seasoned well. But surprisingly, the Risotto at the gas station made my day much more than the pasta. Teaches me a lesson when I keep using water to substitute chicken stock in cooking the rice. Finally, you haven't fallen into the trap unless you ride the gondola, which was where I got the full brunt of the smell of the canals. It was a smell you get used to, but its definitely very fishy and foul. The floating garbage I saw didn't help either. But I have to say that the city was absolutely lovely visually speaking or when avoiding less travelled canals. Very beautiful. It was a long day, but definitely an eye opener.