Venice at Night

After returning from Cortina, Jim and I got ready for a dinner in Venice with Luigi (co-worker), Miriam (girlfriend) and Joe Guy (Jim and Luigi's boss in town from Atlanta).  We picked up Joe around 5:30, leaving the girls to fend for themselves (correctly guessing that would mean the usual pizza from  St. Agostino's and a movie or two).  We, on the other hand, were in for a very different experience.


We met Luigi and Miriam in Piazzale Roma (the parking lot / bus station for Venice) and walked to our restaurant close to the Rialto Bridge.  I was worried about walking to dinner in Venice in heels, but I was sure no matter what shoes I wore, Miriam's heels would be higher and I was right - but like a true Italian, she had no trouble walking the 30 minutes to dinner (I did OK, too).  Joe had found the restaurant Vini da Cicio on his last trip to Venice and was wanting to return - and it was quite good and an enjoyable dinner.   Check out the beautiful water glasses in the picture above, and don't be surprised if at your next trip to my house you get served in the same glasses!
  

After dinner, Luigi had arranged for us to be picked up by a private water taxi...though I think it was closer to a limousine than a taxi and we stood up in the back where we could get a great view (like sticking your head out of the sunroof in your limo).  It was amazing to be in Venice after dark - a whole different view of the city.  The taxi took us to St. Mark's square by back alley rivers.  I am constantly amazed by how big the city really is - much larger than it appears at first glance.   We went for a drink in Harry's Bar.  I had been wanting to go in there, but was never really dressed appropriately until then.  They sure have a good thing going, charging tourists 16.50 euro for a Bellini (which Hemingway didn't even drink) in a room that, once inside, you would never know you were on the Grand Canal.  I did learn that Hemingway drank very strong martinis, and because I had so many questions, the waiter even brought me a shot of Hemingway's drink to give it a try.  I guess the fact that I ordered a 9 euro virgin Bellini (so, just peach juice) didn't tip him off that I might not want a martini.   

We wandered through St. Mark's Square which looked very different without the flood of tourists, checked out the Bridge of Sighs, and then met our waiting water taxi.  The ride back down the Grand Canal was stunning  - the lights on the buildings, the moon on the water, the scarcity of boats.  It gave me a whole new appreciation for the beauty of Venice.  It was really extraordinary - thanks, Luigi!  Since I like to pretend to be a real Italian, Luigi called my bluff and challenged me to write this part of the blog in Italian, but I'm not sure I'm quite up to that - let's just say la notte era molto bello!!