Venice, No Boats, and the Empty Window

I snapped a photo out my hotel window in Venice, expecting the usual postcard chaos—gondolas, tourists, maybe a stray pigeon. Instead, the canal was empty. Not quiet, not peaceful—just empty. I stared at the still water, phone in hand, and realized I’d spent half this trip chasing the version of Venice I’d seen online. No boats meant no distractions. Just me, jet-lagged and weirdly exposed, watching a city I thought I knew refuse to perform. I didn’t post the photo. It felt too honest, too much like proof that sometimes, even in the most famous places, you’re just alone with what you brought with you. #Travel #TravelRealityCheck #VeniceUnfiltered