Our First Experience in Venice

Trip Start Jun 06, 2008
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Trip End Jun 24, 2008


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Sunday, June 8, 2008

Last night is a bit hazy, but I do remember... we were escorted by Laura to our very nice and wonderfully clean apartment and settled in to unpack.  Then we took the plunge, and went back out to explore our new neighborhood and pick up a few groceries.  It was early evening, and mostly locals out doing their shopping or grabbing a glass of vino.  Being an animal lover, I was entranced by all the Venetians who had their dogs along, and the animals would be sitting patiently in the doorway waiting for their master or mistress to come back out.  I fell in love with the coziness of it all.  And in case you're wondering, there were no doggy messes left lying around to step in.  We went back to the apartment, ate our light supper, and crashed about 10 pm.
I had every intention of getting up this morning around my usual time, 6:30 or so, but lo and behold, it was closer to 9:30.  So much for getting an early start.  After successfully figuring out the coffeepot, and fortifying ourselves, Dave and I ventured out into the unknown Guard dog
Guard dog
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What an amazing confluence of sights, sounds, and smells!!  I don't have the ability to describe it all in words... Venice has to be experienced in person.  All around is a cacophony of noise - people chattering in different languages, children squealing as they chase pigeons, and chimes going off every quarter-hour no matter where you are.  So many yummy smells coming out of the trattorias and ristorantes!!   When Dave and I decided to finally turn around and head back home, we missed a turn somewhere and my man actually confessed that he was lost!  I steered Dave towards a pizzeria with outside tables in the shade, and convinced him that if we sat a while and filled ourselves up with some wine and pizza, that all would be well in the world and we would be able to find our way home.  We placed our order, and the waiter brought us each our own mini jug of wine with our wine glasses.  The pizza and salad was delectable - much better than anything you get in the States - though I had to pick off the hairy fish and give them to my DH.  I will eat just about anything, but not anchovies!  As I predicted, we were then able to figure out which way we needed to go, and got home so we could nap and sleep off all that wine.  During our excursions, we noted a coffee bar with wireless internet, and we will attempt to find it again another day with our laptop in tow.  Tomorrow begins our sight-seeing in earnest, and we are calling it an early night again tonight...
Buona notte!
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