I used to be such a lash-o-holic.
I've been known to wear lashes every day no matter the occasion, with a low point being when I actually used to wear 3 pairs a day... Cringe.
Now I savour my lash days and keep them for when I want to look a little bit more snazzy and glamorous.
I got these Miss Eylure lashes in my goody bag from the Mid Summer Meet that I hosted with Lookfantastic, MyBag and Allsole. I'm already in love with these lashes as you'll see why when you see them on.
Not too thick or heavy, these pre-glued lashes add length to my lashes rather than volume which I love.
They were so easy to apply. Out of the packet and peeled off the applicator, you don't have to fiddle around with any glue, you just place them along your lashline, adjust and you're ready to go. Perfect for the lazy girl or lash virgin.
Our last day in Venice took us further than we had been before. Taking the vaporetto all the way to Residenza Cannaregio, a supposedly more traditionally area of Venice.
However when we got there we were faced with just as many tourists as anywhere else, discovering more traditional Venetian mask shops that boasted porcelain horse masks and intricate gold masks that I couldn't help but try on.
We indulged in these rather amazing pastries too. A crispy croissant type treat filled with hazelnut flavoured chocolate.
After wondering through the streets and following the crowds, we decided to take some time out, indulging in some cocktails and Venice's signature drink, a Spritz. An alcoholic aperitif, you can make this yourself by using prosecco wine, a splash of something bitter like Campari, Aperol or Cynar and topping it all off with sparkling water. It's one of the cheapest drinks in Venice and you'll spot the Italians sitting outside smoking with one of these to accompany them. So when in Rome Venice...
This soon got us in the mood for some food and I ordered my first pasta dish, with Elliot going for his favourite, spaghetti carbonara.
When you're in Venice you find yourself just aimlessly walking around the streets, wandering into shops and eating ice cream at the many gelato stands that turn up on every corner. I recommend you get a taste of a 'full milk and cream' ice cream cone, it's like a Mini Milk but taken to the next level. After exploring and taking little breaks sitting next to the canal, we headed back and got ready for our last night.
As it was our last night in Venice, I pulled out a dress I bought a year ago and haven't worn before. This 'vintage' Topshop dress teamed with ASOS heels took us out to the Zattere stretch.
That was, until we saw the lightning, heard the thunder and predicted the impending storm that was about to fall upon Venice. Not one for running around in such horrible weather, we sat ourselves down in the restaurant directly next to our hotel. Ordered my last pizza, while Elliot went for steak with buttered potatoes.
I really did love Venice and hope to visit again. You really can't fit everything in because there is so much going on. from my visit here are a few things I've learned that you first timers might Benefit from.
Our hotel was a 2 star hotel right in the heart of everything, rather than opting for a cheaper 4 star hotel outside of the city, keep it quaint and make sure that you can get yourself out of your room without a train into Venice.
Buy vaporetto tickets in advance, you can get them from 7 up to 48 hours depending on when you plan on using them.
The map looks daunting, but you can walk to entire length of the city within a day. You end up covering more ground than you think so exploring is never an issue. You won't be getting lost any time soon.
I can't thank Elliot enough for this wonderful surprise getaway. Needless to say he deserves it after a rough few months, it was lovely to get out of the country and get some proper one on one time with him. My first ever holiday with a boyfriend went more perfect than I could have ever imagined and I can't wait to make our mark on other countries around the world.
<3
Day two in Venice started with a visit to the Venetian markets in Rialto.We jumped onto the vaporetto bus and made our way. With a collection of fresh fruit and fish we munched on blueberries and took in the sights of buyers and sellers.
We made our way to the stone Rialto Bridge, the first dry crossing of the Grand Canal, bringing both sides of the canal to the markets. Joining the many tourists getting their 'selfies' over the canal we got our pictures and made our way to Accademia.
The Ponte dell'Accademia bridge contrasts to the Rialto Bridge beautifully. Constructed of wood and steel, this bridge has become more than just a crossing for tourists and Venetian residents. Lovers lock their padlocks onto the metal rails (much like they do in Paris), sealing their fate forever.
We got our hands on a lock of our own and picked a spot right in the middle facing towards where our hotel is and promised to visit it in 20 years time together.
Elliot was keen to see the Glassware gallery situated near Stefano square, once inside we were treated to an array of awe inspiring, controversial and amusing artwork created entirely from glass.
Feeling peckish we chose from the many restaurants within the square and indulged in yet another delicious Italian meal. A margherita pizza for me and spaghetti bolognese for Elliot.
After lunch, we made our way to one of the biggest tourist spots in Venice, Piazza San Marco. St Mark's Square is the central square in Venice and brings with it a mixture of luxury and culture with as many pigeons as there are people. With it being midday, tourists flocked to this area and filled it with bustle.
St Mark's Basilica and the Clock Tower came with huge queues that we just weren't willing to take on in the lunchtime heat. So we headed back through toward Giglio and got on board our very first Gondola ride.
By the end of the day we were both worn out, heading in for a brief siesta and then back out for some more Italian cuisine. I was even too tired to bring my camera out with me.
