9-22 in venice

Our VIP tour of Venice that Daniele & Gabriele took us on was an experience we will not soon forget.  They were wonderful hosts and we cannot thank them enough for their kindness and hospitality while in their beautiful city.  We have so many things to write about, but for now, we will sum up our day as best we can.
We had many experiences while walking through the streets and looking at the shops, bridges and boats through the canals: 

We had pizza at a shop owned by Daniele’s friend, an Armenian fellow and very friendly person. After having some pizza and some turkey gyros, he pulled out his stash of  Armenian “moonshine”  which he offered us as a token of friendship. We can say now that we have had authentic (and amazing) Italian pizza!

Daniele & Gabriele’s son Luca’s best friend’s father (Sergio) took us on a 20 minute gondola tour around the Grand Canal under the Rialto bridge and through some narrow canals.  Adriane said everyone that we know with a boat would never try to navigate through these narrow canals.  I think Britton would have tried with the MC.  The gondola ride, normally about 70 euro was free because we were with them.  Can’t complain about that.  That was when we realized we were VIP.

We visited the Doge’s palace and saw more amazing paintings, architecture and a way of life you can’t imagine existed in the 1200’s. there was a museum of various artillery, swords, suits of armor and other medieval artifacts. We walked across the “Bridge of Sighs” to the dungeons where they kept the prisoners and looked at the various rooms and creepy corners where people were undoubtedly tortured etc.

Then we walked around some more, drank some beers at the park and watched the boats, a bride and groom having pictures taken and some interesting people along with the tourists walking by. 

Walked more through the streets and looked for some wall hangings to decorate the new addition.

Adriane found a great Gelati shop and enjoyed what she thinks is the best ice cream she ever had. 

Jason & Daniele haggled with a Venetian street vendor about a Venetian flag that Jason wanted for a wall hanging.  Eventually talked him down to 11 from 12 Euros.

Jason finally bought a mask that he wanted for a wall hanging after looking at about 5 different shops soon to realize they had about the same thing and they were all too expensive.  I settled for something modest.

We took the bus back to Mestre instead of the train this time.  We then took showers and went to dinner to have local seafood with Daniele and Gabriele.  It was a great 4 course meal consisting of all fish.  The first course was sardines prepared with traditional Italian onions with vinegar for preservation. Then shrimp, octopus, something similar to crawfish or prawns (white meat) - almost like a large shrimp. The second course was a type of scallop broiled with olive oil and herbs (they aren’t scallops, but they had a dark pink muscle that we call the foot normally  Daniele explained that the shell of these (looks just like a scallop shell) is the symbol for St. Marc and the people used to use the shell as a symbol atop their masts or walking sticks. Also a symbol which means “Peace Be With You”.   Then squid and prawns (large shrimp) we each had 2.  And finally they served 2 kinds of white fish.  One was oily and one was kind of like tilapia.  It was all very good.

 

We walked around the square after dinner where a festival was just coming to an end but a lot of people were still out.  In Venice has about 80k people and in Mestre about 150K and they consider Mestre a small town.  Each town has a main square known as the piazza where all of the people gather every night between 6 and 8:30 for aperativos or special drinks.  Then they, mostly the young people, go home for dinner or to the pizzeria.  When we were walking at about 10:30 there were still some tents open.  One had  cheese and samples to boot!  Jason, of course, had to take a sample and Daniele was able to get us a “Venetian discount” by mentioning that we are Americans.  The owner of the business immediately stood up , wiped his hand and shook mine. He said we would get a discount and asked us where we are from. I don’t know how I knew what he was saying but answered correctly and said Pennsylvania.  He said he loves the US except for Bush and was very excited to talk to us.  He was from Sardinia.  We kept waking and eventually went back to the apartment we are renting.  It is very nice and even has a stove, fridge, tv/vcr, comfy bed, nice bathroom with a bide and a great location close to Daniele’s house and the train station. 

 

On Sunday morning we packed our things and then walked to Daniele’s.  He took us again to the piazza in Mestre and we walked around the festival a bit more.  He showed us one of the churches in Mestre and they were having mass.  Not a big church compared to St. Marc’s Basilica in Venice, but still quite impressive and beautiful.  Jason bought some Italian salami to go along with the pecorino he bought the night before so that we could have something to eat on the train ride from Mestre to Salzburg.  We write now as we are en route to St. Johann where we will arrive just before 7PM.  We are looking forward to meeting up with Kristin & Charlie for a week of more fun European experiences!

 

¡Ciao!