From the airport we took the Alilaguna boat across the lagoon, down the Grand Canal to the Rialto stop where Alberta, the apartment owner, met us and took us to our "home" for the next week, about a 5 minute walk away. It turned out our apartment is very close to the hotel where I stayed during my last trip here, about halfway between the Rialto Bridge and Piazza San Marco. The apartment is great - totally as advertised in the posting on VRBO, spacious and well-equipped.
Once we had settled in, we went for a late lunch, walked across Piazza San Marco to look at the fog over the lagoon. Then we met up with my friends from Victoria, Faye and Barry, for an Aperol spritz. They had had a long journey from Victoria so were ready for an early dinner and bed. We, on the other hand, still had things to do. We went to a tricorn hat specialty store which Faye recommended where I bought an amazing hat. Next, we hit the Coop supermarket to buy some much needed groceries.
After a short rest - after all, we did all get up before 5 am! - we went for dinner at Trattoria Al Gazzettino, part of the hotel where I'd stayed before. Alberta had highly recommended it. We had a fabulous dinner which started with complimentary aperatis and little pasta samplings while we waited outside in the "calle" (alley) for a table. Once inside, our dinners and desserts were all delicious. The next thing we knew we were being given 2 complimentary glasses of grappa - one chocolate - and, after we'd paid the bill, a bag of pasta! On our way out the door, we thanked the owner profusely for what had been a tasty and very fun experience, We were then rewarded with another bag of pasta and he also gave me a 1/2 bottle of red wine. Great customer service and smart marketing! The owner is clever because we were also handed a little business card and asked to rate the restaurant on Trip Advisor. I'm not sure exactly how much promotion is needed, however. The restaurant was packed when we arrived around 8 pm and shortly after that the wait for a table became over an hour!
This is maybe my 7th or 8th visit to this city and, no matter how many times I come here, the magic of this place will never be lost for me. I love it. Tomorrow, "the boys" need to find some masks, I want to embellish my new hat, and we want to see the official launch of the festivities in Piazza San Marco - the Festa della Maria starting at 2:30. I am sure it is all going to a wonderful experience. There are already a few people wandering around in costumes and I am sure there will be a lot more soon, including us, over the next few days!
Once we had settled in, we went for a late lunch, walked across Piazza San Marco to look at the fog over the lagoon. Then we met up with my friends from Victoria, Faye and Barry, for an Aperol spritz. They had had a long journey from Victoria so were ready for an early dinner and bed. We, on the other hand, still had things to do. We went to a tricorn hat specialty store which Faye recommended where I bought an amazing hat. Next, we hit the Coop supermarket to buy some much needed groceries.
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| Pedro at lunch with Prosecco, of course! |
After a short rest - after all, we did all get up before 5 am! - we went for dinner at Trattoria Al Gazzettino, part of the hotel where I'd stayed before. Alberta had highly recommended it. We had a fabulous dinner which started with complimentary aperatis and little pasta samplings while we waited outside in the "calle" (alley) for a table. Once inside, our dinners and desserts were all delicious. The next thing we knew we were being given 2 complimentary glasses of grappa - one chocolate - and, after we'd paid the bill, a bag of pasta! On our way out the door, we thanked the owner profusely for what had been a tasty and very fun experience, We were then rewarded with another bag of pasta and he also gave me a 1/2 bottle of red wine. Great customer service and smart marketing! The owner is clever because we were also handed a little business card and asked to rate the restaurant on Trip Advisor. I'm not sure exactly how much promotion is needed, however. The restaurant was packed when we arrived around 8 pm and shortly after that the wait for a table became over an hour!
This is maybe my 7th or 8th visit to this city and, no matter how many times I come here, the magic of this place will never be lost for me. I love it. Tomorrow, "the boys" need to find some masks, I want to embellish my new hat, and we want to see the official launch of the festivities in Piazza San Marco - the Festa della Maria starting at 2:30. I am sure it is all going to a wonderful experience. There are already a few people wandering around in costumes and I am sure there will be a lot more soon, including us, over the next few days!
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