I returned home yesterday and one of my favourite parts of the trip was simply watching Venetian life pass by our window in the morning. The small boats unloading flour, the Amazon delivery boat, the Dad taking his kids to school -- very beautiful light and so fun to watch. We were met at the San Stae small pier as we got off our Alilaguna stop (piece of cake from airport, everyone -- just take the orange line and buy your ticket from machine [English option available] at airport or at the kiosk for Alilaguna. It was a 45 minute boat ride and then there we were. From the San Stae stop, it's a simple 3 minute walk up the road. I had thought it might be a big deal after a 10 hour flight but it was not. We appreciated the welcoming wine and treats and the genuine Italian coffee! However, it is the location of this apartment that has won my heart. I have been to Venice more than a dozen times and this visit felt like a first. That is simply because we lived in a beautiful local neighbourhood, Santa Croce, that felt (but wasn't) a world away from the sometimes stifling San Marco scene. Venice is such a beautiful place but you cannot fully experience it living two minutes away from San Marco. However, this apartment was only 8-10 minutes away from everything!!! We ADORED our local square (campo) with its grocery store and little kids playing ball on the cobblestones. The nearby church bells, the ironwork, the maze of tiny bridges...divine. Of course we got lost at times -- for 2 minutes -- and then we found our way again. This is par for the course for Venice. I'd also recommend you walk over the bridge near the train station and stroll through the area of Canareggio for a similar local experience (15 minutes away). We took a 2 minute traghetto that left from the fish market near the Rialto...so rewarding. We occasionally heard our renter's little girl next door but never for long and nothing that prevented us from sleeping. While the apartment was a tiny bit of a push for our budget, we're SO glad we chose to stay here. Grazie, P, M, and E.