Maybe it's because I just rewatched Casino Royale, but I can't stop thinking about Venice. It was the first European city I visited, and I made the mistake of telling myself that it just "couldn't be that cool" (it was, after all, "that cool")...after all, I had nothing to compare it to at the time. We spent three amazing days there, with a fantastic room overlooking the Grand Canal. I mean... it couldn't have gotten any better than that.

But the whole time I kept tempering my enthusiasm because I knew we had a few weeks and many destinations yet to see on our journey (silly, American). And yet, at the end of the trip I realized what a sheer delight Venice really was. It is a city unlike any other. It is, in a word: incomparable.

And until I can sort through our photos, I'll must let Jen Laceda of Folie a Deux be the star and put this remarkable city into words and photos. She does an amazing job:

Jen, I agree wholeheartedly! You MUST go without a map or a plan or expectations.

Since I did just watch Daniel Craig there I'll admit there is something a wee bit 007 about taking a speeding taxi through those narrow waterways. Your heart will indeed race, your blood will course through your veins and you will indeed feel very alive. And when you land on the other side of the canal or the city, you'll feel an unmatched sense of exhilaration. But you get the very same thrill just by walking (and walking, and walking, and walking...) At some point you begin to ask yourself: Will we be able to find our way back? What time is it? Where are we? Where are we going? There's a simple answer for this of course: Who cares. You're in Venice. Live it. Love it. Indulge in it.

It is by far the best city to be lost in. And really, being "lost" in Venice is the only surefire way to "find" it... and you'll very likely discover yourself along the way.

Until we meet again!

*****

As luck would have it, Anthony will be there on Monday's show. So if you like Mr. Bourdain, it might be worth it to see his (never traditional) spin on the city. You never know, you just might fall in love with Venezia as well!