My First Date Was to Venice and It Set the Standard
When it comes to dating, I am a little difficult to impress. I love beautiful things, thoughtful dates, and a real connection. I also believe that a first date sets the tone for everything that comes after. One of my first dates with my long-distance boyfriend just happened to be in Venice.
The Plan That Started It All
Venice, Italy had been on my dream list for as long as I could remember. I had never been to Italy, but I had imagined the food, the culture, and the feeling of being there since I was a kid. My long-distance partner knew how much Venice meant to me. Before we even met in person, he told me that when I arrived, we would be going together.
He had already booked the plane tickets and planned the entire thing for one single day. We would arrive early in the morning and leave late at night. I could hardly believe it. I was going to spend a full day in one of the most romantic cities in the world with my new boyfriend beside me.
A day trip from Paris to Venice sounds a little insane, but that made it even more exciting. The effort alone meant everything.
The Journey to Venice
We woke up around 3 a.m., packed a small backpack, and took a public bus to the airport. The flight went smoothly, and when we landed, the excitement fully set in.
What I did not know was that flying to Venice does not actually bring you straight into the city. Marco Polo Airport is far from the old town, so you have to take a bus and shuttle just to get there.
To make things more interesting, no one at the airport spoke French or English. We stood there, tired and slightly panicked, trying to figure out how we were going to make it work. The ticket kiosks had no translations, and we were completely lost. Just when we started to feel stuck, a kind Italian man stepped in and helped us buy the bus tickets.
Problem solved. Or so we thought.
The bus reached its final stop, and we were still not in Venice. After pulling out our phones and searching for answers, we realized we needed to find a tramway. We wandered the streets, followed signs, and eventually made it onto the tram that finally took us into the city.
Seeing Venice for the First Time
There are very few places that truly make me stop and take everything in. Venice was one of them. I had never seen anything like it. The canals shimmered blue, gondolas passed quietly by, and every street felt like a scene from a movie.
We visited in January, so the air was cold, but the sun was shining and the city felt alive. We spent hours wandering through narrow streets, getting lost on purpose, and discovering hidden corners. We saw the basilica and the ports lined with boats. Every turn felt unreal.
We stopped for lunch at a small pizza shop. The pizza was tasty, even if we were clearly marked as tourists and charged extra for splitting it. That seems to be a common experience in Europe. We laughed it off and ordered gnocchi at another spot, which was so delicious.
Where I Said “I Love You”
At one point, we stopped near the port and sat quietly together, watching the water and the boats. We talked about us, about everything that had led us there. That was the moment I finally told him I loved him for the first time.
The Journey Home
By the end of the day, I was completely exhausted. I was still adjusting to the nine-hour time difference from home and had barely slept the night before. Walking felt impossible, and I nearly fell asleep standing up on the way back to the airport.
I am someone who never sleeps on flights. Somehow, on the flight home from Venice, I was asleep before the plane even took off and did not wake up until we landed.
Why This Trip Changed Everything
They say love is about truly knowing someone. Without even meeting me in person yet, my boyfriend planned a trip to Venice because he knew it was something I had always dreamed of. I had never felt so seen. He listened to the things I talked about and turned them into reality.
That trip changed the way I looked at travel. It made me want to keep exploring and discovering new places, especially with someone like him by my side. Adventure feels bigger and more meaningful when it is shared with someone you love.
This was our first trip together, but it will never be forgotten. He set the bar high and gave me a first impression that will always stay with me.