Venice: Che Bella!

My dad and I spent three days in San Marco, Venice before I came here. We stayed in Hotel Bisanzio, which was, "over three bridges and to the left", or so the lady at the tourist stop told us after I persuaded my dad to ask for directions because we spent an hour waiting outside starring at a map because he thought he knew where he was going. We got settled in, and warmed up. Then we were off we walked the through the Piazza San Marco and down the pier. After a much needed nap to recover from our jet-lag we got a recommendation for dinner from the concierges. The restaurant was smaller but nice. We stood out like a sore thumb as Americans. First we started with the calamari. It tasted like they caught it that morning, which they probably did, and was only lightly battered compared to the American way of saturating it in batter. For the main course we split the calzone pizza. It was stuffed with mushrooms, feta and mozzarella cheese, and prosciutto, and covered with a house red sauce. We each enjoyed a delicious glass or two of wine and finished with a cappuccino. We took the "do it yourself" tour which consisted of getting lost in tiny, narrow backstreets overrun with shops for two hours. But hey, who really minds being lost if you are lost in Venice? At the Basilica I got a rosary with rose beads, that smells like rose petals still. We shopped for loved ones at home who had sent wish lists, enjoyed cappuccinos and pastries at the cafe next to the Ponte di Rialto, and ate more wonderful food. Then it was just a water bus, train ride, and taxi fare and I was in Paderno.