The Venice Jazz Club

Federico on piano, Marco on double base and Pietro on drums.

Had a great evening here again, the first of many I hope this stay.

Earlier I had been to a pianoforte concert in the sala at La Fenice.  Virgina Rossetti played two pieces by Schuman.

Prieseppe

Or Nativity.  There are lots of these in the churches and here in the Chiesa san Pantalon I found a new one.  It was delightful.  Camels, sheep, shepherds, Wise Men - they were all here with the special family in the centre of the church.  I was amazid to fall on it being open, most times I pass it’s closed.  It was a wonderful oasis in my stressful three trips to the Vodafone shop day.

Food and Art

Yesterday with friends I had lunch at Food & Art, the boat yard mensa, workers cafe.

Main course, I had meat & aubergine parmigiano, wine & water for €8.

Cigarette Machines

Can you believe there are still cigarette machines on the streets in Italy?  They were made illegal in the UK years ago.

Fog

When I woke up yesterday (Tuesday) & opened the shutters I couldn’t see across my small terrace for the fog.  Fog always makes great photo opportunities so I was soon out & about with my camera.  Now two years ago we had a better fog, but here are a few photos.

This hazzard is outside the Accadamia.  Can you imagine the health & safety complaints there would be in the UK? 

Cantina do Mori

This bar features in the book A Thousand Days in Venice.  It is the story of an American woman coming to live in Venice, marrying a Venetian and then living on the Lido.  Not the best book I’ve ever read but I always love stories of the city.

The bar is near the Rialto Mercato, the width of the building but very narrow.  They make great cicchetti, not all on bread which is good for me, lots of different wines by the glass ranging from plonk at €1.50 to Amarone at €20 per glass.  The guy was very pleasant and allowed me to take photos.

More people and views

Near my apartment

Here are a few more people photos.  The ladies were having coffee Saturday morning in Bar Palanca, I love watching them, so much gossip being shared.

More being shared along the Fondamenta.

People and Views

Yesterday I went out for the first time with my new camera and took photos of people and views.  here are a few.

A city offical

Phiuvio at the Accadamia newsstand

Above - Buying a ticket on the vap

Below - The Rialto market

Gondoliere

Aqua alto at the Rialto mercato

Below washing out on my way home

Two photos late afternoon outside my apartment

In the evening I had friends in for dinner.  The expensive small chicken from the new butcher was delicious.  (The previous one retired a millionaire after my visit last year)!
I made Nigelissima’s Italian Roast Chicken which went down very well.

Today I am cooked Musetto con fagioli piccanti.  Venetian sausage with beans.  It has taken 3 hours and several bowls of washing up to make but it looks and smells delicious.  Last night David told me it was a Venetian speciality for Epiphany.  Just a couple of weeks late.

Here is my Venetian sausage stew

Now I feel ready for a siesta but I must get more on the blog then get ready to go to Jeremy’s soiree at 6.00pm.

The Venice Ladies Group

There were only three of us to to the Correr Museum to see the Guardi exhibition.  My little legs were so sore after all the walking yesterday and due to high water we had to take a long way around Piazza San Marco so we just went for a coffee before meeting with the rest of the group for a delicious lunch at trattoria San Maurizio.  I had eaten there a couple of times about five years ago with Joyce, Ian and Pat.  I don’t know why I haven’t been back!

On my way home I called to look at handbags.  20% off until 1st February.  I will be back there.  After another visit to the coop I went to Basilica San Marco for the service for the Week of Christian Unity.  It’s lovely to sit in the church and admire the Pa’ la Do’ro, the screen of gold.  Met up with Gaspare and we were the last to shake hands with all the clergy.

The First Day

I was out of the apartment by 09.45 raring to go and get my phone unlocked and buy internet access.  it takes about one hour to get to the Rialto where the Vodafone shop is located.  I went THREE times.  The first i needed a new sim card for my dongle.  Current promotion will not work, but I hadn’t taken my passport so I had to go home for it.

Two hours later I am back with passport - unfortunately I had got almost to the vap when I realized I still hadn’t picked it up & had to go back home.  I had stopped off at the new greengrocers for some veg & after putting it away forgot what I had returned for!

Bought the new sim, extra €5, also had to pay €5 to get my phone unlocked as it hadn’t been used for 6 months.  Fortunately the €22 credit was still there.  All this is just a money raising exercise for Vodafone just like speed cameras!  

I thought as it would take a few hours to connect i would walk over the Rialto bridge and have some cicchetti for lunch at Do Mori.  More about this and photos later.

The weather was pleasant so I walked from there back down to the Zattere for the vap via Campo Santa Margheita and called to see my friends at a bar near where I first lived.  Back at my apartment the internet worked but would not let me on line or send or receive emails.  You’ve guessed it, I packed up my Mac & went off again to the Rialto.  I had to wait half an hour - only one person in front of me & it worked straight away!  

On my way home I called at the coop for a bottle of red wine.

Pictures:

Over the Dolomitti and Lake Como.

Venice and Murano from the air.

I've arrived!

I arrived at my apartment in style yesterday afternoon by water taxi.  My luggage was mega heavy & I really didn’t think I could manage to get it from the bus to the vaporetto or from the vaporetto to my apartment.  Annie & Mike were waiting for me on the pontile and an assistant from the Coop waved to me from the bridge.  I was back.

Just over two hours later, unpacked and all put away Annie, Mike & I walked up the fondamenta for dinner with Liz and Geoff. Great company, conversation and food.  I fell into bed at 11.45 shattered.

Today I have walked miles, but that’s for another day.  I’m ready for bed.  But I thought I’d just let you know I’m here and on line.  Another saga.......

Getting ready

Less than two weeks to go now, I'm getting excited and have begun packing.  This morning I had to get a top out of the suitcase to wear!

I was out with my new camera last week and got some great shots of the moors so am anticipating you will be seeing some wonderful photos.