Getting lost in Venice, Italy

The less commonly visited neighborhoods of Venice are filled with mysterious alleyways, vibrantly colored façades and elaborately detailed doorknobs.

Turn corners, cross bridges, and wind through the canals and you will inevitably lose all sense of direction. But that's the joy - finding beauty where you least expected it.

Yet there's also joy in finding beauty exactly where others before you have found it, as well. The hallmark symbol of Venice is the gondola, and it's nearly impossible not to ride one as at least once as a tourist.

Even in the most touristy of areas, such as the Bridge of Sighs, for example, you can still find unexpected details that most forget to notice. As a tourist, when there's so much to take in and look at, it's easy to lose sight of the details until you remember to zoom in to examine them.

The secrets of Venice unfold in the details. Part of the joy is discovering your way; getting lost and then returning once again to some place familiar - and iconic, such as St. Mark's Square.