Sorry for the lack of updates.... I've been busy, you've been busy... Here it is! Check out facebook for pictures.
December 18th-21st
18th: We started our day with breakfast at our apartment and then headed out to see the city. We wandered over towards some areas that not many tourists visit and it was beautiful! After crossing over a few bridges, there were only locals to be seen and we found some amazing places.
Around lunch time we found ourselves back at one of the main streets and stopped into a little trattoria for some food. Dad and I had some great pizza (he had anchovies, while I took advantage of the real world and had proscuitto… oh, pork products, how I’ve missed you). Mom and Julie both had a panini…. I’ll take pizza over a sandwich any day! After our lunch, we made our way to the Rialto Bridge. It’s beautiful, but covered in graffiti. Modern day meets history, I guess. On our walk home, we passed through a square that had an ice skating rink set up and some little vendors on the side. I was so excited and really felt like I was in Italy! My dad bought me cotton candy from a vendor and I felt like a little kid again. It was awesome.
We ended the day with dinner at the apartment!
Around lunch time we found ourselves back at one of the main streets and stopped into a little trattoria for some food. Dad and I had some great pizza (he had anchovies, while I took advantage of the real world and had proscuitto… oh, pork products, how I’ve missed you). Mom and Julie both had a panini…. I’ll take pizza over a sandwich any day! After our lunch, we made our way to the Rialto Bridge. It’s beautiful, but covered in graffiti. Modern day meets history, I guess. On our walk home, we passed through a square that had an ice skating rink set up and some little vendors on the side. I was so excited and really felt like I was in Italy! My dad bought me cotton candy from a vendor and I felt like a little kid again. It was awesome.
We ended the day with dinner at the apartment!
19th: We woke up early to catch the Vaporetto (water taxi) across the bridge from our apartment, which would take us to St. Mark’s square. We had our breakfast in the morning and didn’t plan to eat lunch, as we had reservations at “La Zucca” (The Pumpkin) for dinner. The ride on the Vaporetto was chilly, but I had a chance to take some great pictures coming into St. Mark’s square. I’d seen it in movies, of course, but seeing it in person was breathtaking. The beautiful sunshine only added to the magical feel of the place. The first thing we did was to go up the bell tower to see the panoramic view of the city. WOW. It was indescribable. When we got back down, we went inside the basilica and admired it (and warmed up). Next, we went into the Doge’s Palace. It was HUGE. My favorite part was the map that had been created around the 1300’s. I was, and still am, in awe of the fact that people were able to draw this map of the world without aerial views, satellite images, and more. It was pretty amazing. Taking the water taxi home was yet another chance to take some beautiful pictures, with the sun setting behind the city.
When we got home, we relaxed for a bit and then headed out to La Zucca to eat our dinner. The restaurant had been written up in several ‘guidebooks’ my dad had read. The manager of the apartment we are staying in had given us a tour the first day we arrived and pointed it out as well. It is directly on a small little canal, with room for only 35 people inside. We had a nice little table near the door. For appetizers, we had pumpkin flan, pumpkin soup, spaghetti with broccoli and pasta with gorgonzola and pistachios. O.M.G. Heaven. Dinner included roasted chicken, lamb stew, veal and braised beef. The only thing that made me sad about the whole meal was that I didn’t have room for even a taste of dessert….. I slept VERY well this night….
When we got home, we relaxed for a bit and then headed out to La Zucca to eat our dinner. The restaurant had been written up in several ‘guidebooks’ my dad had read. The manager of the apartment we are staying in had given us a tour the first day we arrived and pointed it out as well. It is directly on a small little canal, with room for only 35 people inside. We had a nice little table near the door. For appetizers, we had pumpkin flan, pumpkin soup, spaghetti with broccoli and pasta with gorgonzola and pistachios. O.M.G. Heaven. Dinner included roasted chicken, lamb stew, veal and braised beef. The only thing that made me sad about the whole meal was that I didn’t have room for even a taste of dessert….. I slept VERY well this night….
20th: Dad, Julie and I woke up at the crack of dawn to visit the market place at Rialto. It was COLD and still dark when we left. Walking into the market reminded me of Pike’s Place in Seattle, with an Italian flare. Fresh fruits and vegetables were everywhere. Whole chickens hung in the windows, heads and feet still attached…. Feathers, too. We also passed a butcher…. Of horse meat. Yep. I think I will pass on that one! Then we got to the seafood section. Fresh, fresh, fresh! Some of the shrimp and eels were still alive….. How much better can you get? I went crazy taking pictures. I also found my Italian hero. My dad named him “Tito.” An older gentleman. Wearing a red sweatsuit. Matching with the Italian flag on the back. Fanny pack in front. Cap on his head. Cigarette dangling from his mouth. And all of this while he goes about setting up his fish stand in the market. I took several pictures. I almost went up to ask him to take a picture WITH him.
On our way home, we stopped in a cheese shop and I was in heaven… Again. Gorgonzola, brie, burrata (?)… I am telling you, I think I could live on cheese. Oh, we also stopped at our favorite bakery… Majer. They might know us by name now. Fantastic. Thank goodness we are walking throughout the day! Once we got back to the apartment, I laid down to rest before we were heading to the museums for the day. I ended up staying home and sleeping almost all day, while the rest of the group went to check out the museums. It was much needed.
On our way home, we stopped in a cheese shop and I was in heaven… Again. Gorgonzola, brie, burrata (?)… I am telling you, I think I could live on cheese. Oh, we also stopped at our favorite bakery… Majer. They might know us by name now. Fantastic. Thank goodness we are walking throughout the day! Once we got back to the apartment, I laid down to rest before we were heading to the museums for the day. I ended up staying home and sleeping almost all day, while the rest of the group went to check out the museums. It was much needed.
21st: This morning, we woke up reallllllyyyy early and took the train to Trieste. It was great weather again. We walked all over the city, saw some beautiful churches and two different castles. The first castle was at the top of the hill in the middle of the city. It was really old. The second castle was on the cliffs overlooking the water. This will be where I get married, eventually. Start saving your money now. We had lunch at a local pub, took the city bus and ended the evening with some fabulous gelato.
I am going to go through food withdrawals when I get back to Kuwait….. Uh oh. On the train ride home, we all fell asleep. Now, we are getting ready to go to sleep. Tomorrow is our last full day in Venice. We are going to take the Vaporetto to the islands of Burano and Murano, famous for lace and glass. Shopping? Yes, please! On Friday, we will take the morning train to Rome, check into our apartment and get some grocery shopping done before Christmas Eve, when everything will shut down. I am looking forward to Rome…. That is where I plan to do most of my damage to my bank account while shopping… And I will be finding somewhere to get my hair done. Ah, this is the good life. More from Rome!
I am going to go through food withdrawals when I get back to Kuwait….. Uh oh. On the train ride home, we all fell asleep. Now, we are getting ready to go to sleep. Tomorrow is our last full day in Venice. We are going to take the Vaporetto to the islands of Burano and Murano, famous for lace and glass. Shopping? Yes, please! On Friday, we will take the morning train to Rome, check into our apartment and get some grocery shopping done before Christmas Eve, when everything will shut down. I am looking forward to Rome…. That is where I plan to do most of my damage to my bank account while shopping… And I will be finding somewhere to get my hair done. Ah, this is the good life. More from Rome!
Cheers!!!!
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