Feb 3, 20162 min read

Make a Bar in Venice

Best advice to have a really, really great time in Venice for just a few bucks? Make your own pop-up bar.

Step 1: Pop by the local supermarket.

Any market that sells wine, beer or other spirits will do. I bought a cheap bottle of wine for 5 bucks and a large beer for a couple more. #TravelTip Remember to get a twist off top bottle of wine if you don't have (or want to buy) a corkscrew. ha

Step 2: Get Lost in the Streets of Venice

One of my favorite things to do in just about any European city is to get lost in the small, winding streets. #Venice is an amazing maze so don't be scared to just get lost. We got so lost that we actually saw cars (in case you didn't know, cars are not really necessary or allowed in Venice). Don't worry, you're on an island so you can't get too lost. #TravelTip If you're like me and don't like to be part of the tourist sheeple... disregard post signs in Venice. If you really want to avoid sheeple, if the sign says " Go Right for San Marco Square," go "Left."

Step 3: Find a Dead End That Speaks to You

Our dead end was so lovely, we stayed there for a good 2 hours. We drank, laughed and gondola-watched. If you dig people-watching, you'll love gondola-watching. As we sat there, we would see gondolas stroll by our line of sight. If this post gets a lot of attention, I will post a hilarious video we have of tourist suckers strolling by our free pop up bar.

Step 4: Cheers and Enjoy a Different Experience

We made a game out of our gondola sightings. We'd see the tip of the boat and we'd quickly make a prediction... okay, are the lovers going to be vomit cutesy or will their arms be folded and lips in a scowl. Here's the skinny... these gondola rides are ridiculously expensive and from what I noticed, 9 out of 10 times, the passengers were not having a good time. Most of the gondola drivers were talking loudly on their cellphones while taking the tourists on a "romantic ride." We had front-row seats to the genuinely disappointed faces of the gondola passengers. Then, they'd see us and our make-shift bar and perk right up. It's as if they'd wished they'd thought of just sitting on a stoop to drink and watch the boats pass by.

#TravelTip Reconsider paying the 50-75 euros for a 20-minute ride just because you're in Venice. Get the gondola experience from a difference perspective. We sat there for 2 hours and it cost us a whopping 7 bucks; one of the best memories of my life.