Local Expert
Bradley Harden
Living the Sweet Life in a Fantasy Land
I was born in Missouri, but grew up in Minnesota where I was exposed to true winter and the health benefits of shoveling A LOT of snow. After graduating from…
Living the Sweet Life in a Fantasy Land
I was born in Missouri, but grew up in Minnesota where I was exposed to true winter and the health benefits of shoveling A LOT of snow. After graduating from high school I attended Northwest Missouri State University for 2 years and then transferred to Boston to attend Berklee College of Music and earned a degree in Music Business and Management. After deciding that a desk job simply wasn't my thing at this point in my life, I set out to see what the world had to offer. I found a wonderful little town a few miles southwest of Venice called Padova. This small, university town truly captures all of the ideas, visions, sights, and sounds of what you think Italy should be...except the gondolas, that is left for Venice.
I enjoy a lot of different things. Travel is obvious. I have traveled extensively throughout Europe in the years since arriving, trying to see as much as I can. This, of course, includes a vast amount of Italy. I have had a wonderful time experiencing the culture with real Italians that have taken me to the places that you can not find in any guidebook and that are not on any map. During the spring and summer I work as a liaison for travelers; helping them find their way from the airport or train station to their hotels and helping them navigate through Venice or surrounding area to see things that are off the beaten path. Of course, if it’s your first time you need to see the important historical things, but if you’ve been before perhaps a day of ‘live like a local’ is more your thing. I always find a huge amount of pleasure and satisfaction from seeing a city that I know very well through the eyes of someone who is experiencing it for the first time. When this happens I, too, see the city for the first time and I realize that the magic never left.
In addition to all of this, I also enjoy movies, most types of music, going out for a “spritz” in the piazzas during the evenings with friends, and since I’m living in Italy eating AMAZING food and drinking a GREAT glass of wine come almost automatically. This is the definition of "Having your cake and eating it too."
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"I Can Find That Place in...3 Clicks, Jim!"
Navigating Venice can be somewhat daunting for the first time visitor or even if your name is Ferdinand Magellan. There are numerous side streets that are only a few feet wide, nothing runs in a straight line, and no matter how good you are if you can’t see the sun sometimes north is completely imperceptible. I’ve been here for a few years now and I have to admit that sometimes even I find myself turned around and genuinely lost. Well, maybe lost is the wrong word, maybe "temporarily unaware of my exact location" is a better way to put it.
Those of you who have visited the city will understand what I’m talking about and those of you who are planning on visiting will soon find out. But don’t fear, there is an easy solution and I am happy to announce that "I can find that place in 3 clicks".
The city of Venice has recently implemented on their city website and very comprehensive mapping program. It works the same as most map programs on the internet, but this one is strictly limited to Venice and the Venice area. It includes the islands such as Murano, Lido, Burano and the rest but also includes the mainland areas of Mestre, Marghera, and Zelarino.
You can enter and address, attraction, or neighborhood in Venice and the map will transport you to that exact location instantly. You can search for canals, bridges, and do searches for "Itineraries" for the day with barrier free routes.
I think it’s a great tool and if you are planning to visit Venice it’s a great way to find your way around while you’re here. Of course, if you feel more confident carrying a map with you I think you should...in fact, I recommend it, but before you arrive it’s a great tool to find where things are in relation to others and a quick printout will save you some time and money at the tourist info place when you arrive as many hotels offer street maps for free whereas the tourist offices don’t.
To check out the street finder...CLICK HERE.
If you would like to contact me directly about this, or anything else regarding Venice or northern Italy, visit me
HERE