Ahh, Venice

View from our bedroom window

What a beautiful city and what phenominal weather we had! We left for Venice on Friday just over a week ago. Taking the train is definitely the way to go, though we discovered that the direct train without changes is actually slower than switching in Milano. None the less, seated in first class with no particular agenda to get to, we were happy to doze for the 5 hours it took. We arrived after sunset and so we thrown right into the bustle night life of the city. As it was a holiday weekend for many one of our trickier tasks was finding places to eat that would take a late reservation or none at all.
Our accommodation for the first night was a very nice apartment a little off the beaten path but right on a canal. I am passing on the info for all of you because we highly recommend it both price wise and niceness wise. It has been recently renovated and feels homey and clean. The owner, Eva, met us at the apt and was great. The place is well equiped and has a kitchen, living room or 2nd bedroom (pull out couch), main bedroom with queen bed, and 2 bathrooms. If you ever want to go to venice email Eva and see if it's available. For the same quality in a hotel you'll be paying close to 400 euros, she charged us 110 for the night. We were only disappointed that we couldn't stay both nights, but unfortunately she had already booked Sat and we were lucky to find it available for Friday night.
evasoranzo@ngi.it

James outside the entrance to our apartment

After finding our apartment we were hungry, and just enough to be slightly cranky about the reservation issue. Eventually we found our way to Alla Madonna - a place that thankfully doesn't allow for reservations. Even so, we had a good 20 min wait to be seated, but at that point we weren't trying to wander around and find some place else. The place came recommended by a couple of people. It was decent but neither of us were over the moon about it. Lots of fish and seafood, so if you like that you're in the right city.

The apartment is the bottom floor

Saturday was truly the most glorious day weather wise. Sunny and warm enough to be comfortable in a light jacket - you know I couldn't ask for more! We spent the whole day walking and eating - with the exception of our over priced gondola ride at sunset. I think if I'm ever really pressed for money I'm moving to Venice. Those guys charge anywhere from 80-150 euros for a 40min gondola ride! wow. I've discovered that hot chocolate in Venice is like hot chocolate pudding. It normally is so thick you have to eat it with a spoon. For those of you who know it - it reminds me of sheer neshaste but chocolate flavored. Yum. We seriously walked the whole city I think and only stopped to eat or go into little tourist trap stores. We saw more Murano glass than we possibly would have liked, but then that's all part of the experience I suppose.
Dinner was at Al Piron which we thought was this little hide-away place that we came across in our wonderings through the Ghetto. We were a bit mistaken but we still had a very good dinner. The menu is pricey but tasty and we made sure to enjoy the moment.

Me and my first hot chocolate!


Enjoying the day

Our second night was spent at the Hotel Dolomiti - a 2 star number right near the train station. It's a convenient location, but definitely not quiet and definitely not anything but adequate. Breakfast was blach. It's a place you go to when you don't want to spend too much and all else has failed. You know it will be clean but beyond that...
Finally, sunday's weather was good - not as good. We had just the morning to walk around - and so we did just that. Our mistake was to eat lunch in a hurry at a tourist menu joint - yuck yuck yuck. Don't eat at any of those places on the main drag - is my recommendation. If they're there it's because they never see the same customer twice.
Our train was delayed by half an hour which made us miss our connecting train in Milan where we had to sit and wait for an hour. Even so, we still arrived back only a half hour after our original time. Wierd.