Benvenuto in Italia

[ladder13]

After many years of prodding, my 94% Italian wife( all ancestors from Zungoli), got me (38%, maternal ancestors from Calabria), to do a tour of Venice, Florence and Rome.
We flew out of Raleigh to Newark NJ on to Venice. Eight hours from Newark to Venice, with little sleep.
Arrived in Venice and took a water taxi to our hotel.
First meal was pizza, of course. Not like the NY pizza I grew up with, very different. Delicious in it's own way.
A couple pics of the airport, getting ready to board the taxi, and a slice of heaven. Ciao.

Sal, wish you were here

 

[texmex]

It must be really neat to be in places where so much history was made and to walk in the footprints of the people who made it. Enjoy.

 

[Old_Cop]

My maternal grandfather was from Cosenza Calabria. Please enjoy you trip and tell us all about it.

 

[bigwheelzip]

Like so many things, nothing compares to the first time you experience Italy. Have a great time.

I'd be remiss if I didn't mention Dolce Maniera, at Via Barletta 27 in Rome. An almost hidden neighborhood jewel of a basement bakery, seven blocks north of the Porta Angelica of the Vatican's Piazza San Pietro (or 1 block north of the Ottaviano Metro stop).

A Vatican visit is a must, and typically lengthy, so you'll probably be hungry when you leave. Unfortunately, good eateries are sparse in that neighborhood.

 

[ladder13]

Needed a break from walking. . As expected very touristy. I've been bumped into about 20 times today, no one says anything they just keep going. Yes, my wallet is still with me.

Some streets, if you can them that, are just wide enough for two people to pass.

It's been raining since we arrived on Sat morning.

Some pics of the local scene.

 

[bigwheelzip]

Don't forget to reenact this commercial.

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDhjpqIQS84[/ame]

 

[Rudi]

Great photos! That pizza looks yummy!!

 

[H Richard]

Brings back memories.

 

[Rustyt1953]

Miguel, don't forget about parking on the mainland:



Amico, I hope you two squeeze every bit of fun from every second you're there.

PS: keep the cannoli.

 

[mtgianni]

Enjoy it and when you are ready to return there is no better place to people watch than Leonardo DaVinci airport.

 

[Onomea]

If you or your wife like mystery stories, there is a marvelously atmospheric series by Donna Leon that takes place in Venice.

From Wikipedia:

...Donna Leon born September 28, 1942, in Montclair, New Jersey is the American author of a series of crime novels set in Venice, Italy, featuring the fictional hero Commissario Guido Brunetti...

... Leon lived in Venice for over 30 years and now resides in a small village in Switzerland. She also has a home in Zurich...

... Her Commissario Brunetti novels all take place in or around Venice. They are written in English and have been translated into many foreign languages, but--at Leon's request--not into Italian...."

 

[ladder13]

It's been raining pretty much since we got here on Sat, but thankfully no flooding in the city of Venice.
Took a trip to Plaza San Marco this afternoon, had some lasagna bolognese in one of the fine trattoria's almost on every block.
The streets are narrow and very confusing, my cell phone gps gets confused quite often.
We had dinner last night with the group. Folks from TN, LA, NY, NJ, CA, MA, FL.
Still haven't gotten used to the change in time .

 

[ladder13]

Shower/bath has a glass door that covers 1/3 the shower, water everywhere

Buon giorno.

 

[Rustyt1953]

I'm extremely glad you guys are living it up. Nice pics. They make me want to dig out my old CliffsNotes on Othello and The Merchant of Venice. It's remarkable how many present day, commonly used terms and phrases came out of those two works.

If you run across a bottle of grappa, tell it I said: "hi".

 

[ladder13]

My maternal grandfather was from Cosenza Calabria. Please enjoy you trip and tell us all about it.

As Forrest Gump said " we may be relations"

 

[H Richard]

When we were there in Venice was is Sept, and they had the walkboards up on stilts getting ready for flooding. They told us work was being done on a type of dam out aways that should eliminate flooding in St Marks Sq. Wonder if that was ever done.

 

[16thVACav]

Shower/bath has a glass door that covers 1/3 the shower, water everywhere

Buon giorno.

If the shower has a cord hanging down from the ceiling, do not pull it!

 

[ladder13]

When we were there in Venice was is Sept, and they had the walkboards up on stilts getting ready for flooding. They told us work was being done on a type of dam out aways that should eliminate flooding in St Marks Sq. Wonder if that was ever done.

San Marco is the first place to flood from what the local guide told, to this day. Today it was packed with visitors.

We saw Doge's Palace and crossed over the Bridge of Sighs to see the jail and torture chambers. Those Doge's were cruel people. They even hung one of their own for trying to become the top dog.

Pics of San Marco and the Bridge of Sighs.

 

[ladder13]

If the shower has a cord hanging down from the ceiling, do not pull it!

It does, and has a red handle on it. I don't touch anything red in a hotel.

 

[federali]

Italy is Beautiful

I've been to Italy five times including two trips to Venice with its ultra narrow "single stack" passageways. My 100% Italian heritage slipped to 83% following a DNA test with Ancestry.com. I think a "pure Italian" is an oxymoron.

Anyone accustomed to Italian food as offered in the big-city Italian enclaves here in the USA may need to adjust to the cuisine in Italy. It's quite different and red sauce is not popular in the northern reaches. When in northern Italy you must try their pasta with pesto. They also tend to serve their steaks virtually raw with just of bit of flash-frying.