It's early. Around 6:30 am. Quiet on the Grand Canal as I peek out the window. Return to bed as I'm too tired to go walking this early. Soon it's time to get up and start the day. It's 9:30 am and things busier on the Grand Canal. We head down to breakfast which is included in our hotel stay. Breakfast is buffet. We sit inside. So many items. Juices. Cereals. Breads. Pastries, cakes. Fruit. Ham, salami. Cheeses. Pancakes. In dishes keeping warm are scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage. Hard boiled eggs. Cucumbers, cherry tomatoes. Condiments. Yogurt. We're asked what we want to drink and I opt for coffee. Later my husband will tell me I can ask for cappuccino which I will do on other mornings. For now I try the pancake which is so-so. Fruit-watermelon-which is fine. Juice. Pastry. My husband makes a breakfast sandwich. Back to our room to get ready for our day. I have pre booked us tickets for Correr Museum and the Doge's Palace.
 |
| All's quiet at 6:30 am |
 |
| Getting busy by 9:30 am |
 |
| Breakfast |
We decide to take the vaporetto to San Marco. Lots to see. Faded elegance.
Our first glimpse of St. Mark's Square. It's huge! Lots of people. Surrounded by historic buildings and sights. Old offices. New offices.
 |
Campanile
|
 |
| St. Mark's Basilica |
Museo Correr/Correr Museum. Overview of history and art of Venice. Combo ticket with Doge's Palace. Cost 26€/$28.97. Canova statues. Armory. We spent 1 1/2 hours here but also visited the Museo Archeologico Nazionale which is in the same building.
 |
Daedalus & Icarus
|
 |
| Orpheus & Eurydice |
It's 12:15 pm and we're going to head over to the Doge's Palace. But there's been a bit of flooding in St. Mark's Square. Cool refections. Lots of people-adults and kids-walking barefoot through the water. What the heck. My shoes are waterproof KEENS so a bit of water doesn't phase me at all.
 |
Reflection
|
Doge's Palace. Seat of Venetian government. Home of the ruling duke/doge. Prisons. Bridge of Sighs. Exterior-Venetian Gothic. Islamic courtyard. We spent around 2 hours here.
 |
| Postcard-Doge's Palace |
 |
| Battle of Lepanto |
 |
| Prisons |
 |
| Bridge of Sighs |
 |
Courtyard
|
Time for a break. Cafe Florian is right here. I know they sell coffee beans and I intend to buy some for my daughter. She's not into jewelry, t shirts but does love a good cup of coffee. We can kill two birds with one stone. I'll buy the coffee and we'll sit at a table. Enjoy the music, have some drinks, maybe a snack. Cost 2 boxes coffee beans 32€/$34.86. I also take a quick peek at the inside seating which is beautiful. At our table Richard orders a beer-Florian artigianale bionda which is a traditional Florian pale lager beer. I have a hard time deciding as everything looks so yummy. I finally opt for the Caffe Anniversario Florian which is coffee, chocolate, Florian zabaione liquor, whipped cream, and crushed amaretto biscuits. I also order Biscotti Florian which is a plate of 6 different traditional Italian biscuits. We also got a bowl of green olives and a bowl of potato chips. Cost drinks and snack with table charge 53€/$57.74. My coffee drink was so yummy! Spent almost 1 hour here. Loved listening to the music and recognizing some of the songs being played. Moon River, Yesterday, Over the Rainbow. Lovely views of St. Mark's Square from our table. Head back to our hotel to rest a bit. Get ready for dinner.
 |
| This is the area where I bought the coffee beans |
 |
| Coffee I bought |
 |
| Inside seating |
 |
Outside tables
|
 |
Menu
|
 |
| Florian pamphlet |
Now it's time to think about dinner. I've made a reservation for 7:00 pm at Osteria da Pampo. This place is a bit far out. Near Giardini della Binnale. I want to try restaurants in different areas of Venice. We will take the vaporetto to the stop Giardini or S. Elena-can't remember which stop it was. Then we'll need to walk a bit. Hope we can find this place! We're walking and I have no idea where we are. But I see a spot lit up with some tables outside. I ask and it's the place!
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
Osteria da Pampo. We decide to sit at a table inside. It's a small place but the service is great and the menu has several appealing items on it. But I've done some research so I know what I want. It's spaghetti alla busara for me. That is spaghetti sautéed with prawns in a spicy "busara" sauce. The sauce is tomatoes, garlic, and chili pepper. It's not as spicy as I thought it would be. Delicious! My husband gets the gnocchi da mare which is small gnocchi served in a stew of "Mitilla" mussels, clams, and prawns. He loved his choice. Drinks-beer and house wine. Cost 42.50€/$46.30.
 |
| Menu |
 |
| Menu |
It's a lovely night so we decide to walk back along the waterfront to catch our vaporetto. Then we decide to ride all the way to the end and then back to our hotel. Lovely to see the buildings lit up at night and the lights play off the water. As we near the doors to our hotel I spot a gelato place. Busy. I decide I need some gelato. My first in Italy. I get the smallest cup of amarena/cherry. Yummy. Think it was 2€. Richard didn't want any! His loss. Perfect way to end the day. Tomorrow is another big day.
 |
| Train station |
 |
| So good! |
 |
| Gelato |
No comments:
Post a Comment