VENICE TRIP

Author: ITALYHOTLINE
Date of Trip: April 2008

I stayed with my father and his wife at A TRIBUTE TO MUSIC HOTEL in Venice for two nights. The hotel was nice, but simple. It was along the waterfront walkway south of San Marco. The hotel staff was very helpful and friendly- a rarity in Venice. They lent us a new guidebook and an umbrella and gave us great recommendations for dinner. Al Vecio Portale was a gem of a restaurant with excellent service and chef Pino was a delight. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone. It was also full of Venetians and some tourists. Everything from the Caponata antipasto to the Almond icecream dessert were excellent. And don’t forget the fish raviolis- light and delicious with a shrimp sauce.

I loved looking out at the waterfront activity- people walking along and the wild action of boats- unbelievable that there aren’t constant accidents between gondolas, transport boats and the tourist boats but they all seem to maneuver gracefully around each other.

The internet did not work in my room or anywhere in the hotel- this was a bummer as I had work to do. The beds were very comfortable but a perfumed spray was very strong on the damask bed cover and I had to ask they be removed.

The walk along the waterfront was very nice and even more beautiful to wind our way to San Marco in the back streets. Just down towards Giardini on the street that goes off to the left is another good restaurant- Giorgioni. That is a nice street for cafes as well as some local nightlife and Baccari- the delicious snacks offered by some traditional bars that are akin to Spanish Tapas.

To budget eat well- go into the little cafes that have small sandwiches called tramezzini. They are stuffed with delicious fillings and only cost about 1.20 each. Take a bag of them for the train! I love to wander Venice looking for these and just stop in for a snack now and then all day long.

And don’t forget the wonderful Venice tradition: The Spritz! Go to Campo Santa Margherita around 5pm or 6pm for this delicious Venetian tradition of white wine, ice, campari or aperol and soda.