On our way, we had to find a trash dumpster. The trash here is crazy - there are about five different ways you have to divide the trash up and the fine for not doing it is pretty big. I am completely confused though as to how the trash is divided. I just know paper goes alone.
We drove up to see a busy thoroughfare where there were booths lined up. It's like our swap meets or a farmer's market. We walked down and looked at the goods - a lot of sweaters, coats, scarves, beanies, hats, food, and more. Chris bought a dark grey beanie since it was pretty cold out there. It was foggy where we were at as well.
We walked about half way through and stopped at Caffe Commercio for breakfast. We sat outside (Italians seem to be outside no matter what, but there were heat lamps which made it okay) and Andrew ordered us cappuccinos, chocolate croissants, and some apple pastries.
They brought is out and the chocolate croissant I ate was so tasty. After looking around and seeing others drinking/eating this super thick liquid like chocolate, I decided I needed to try some too. There were so many different kinds, but I had to get the Mayan Dark Chocolate drink (because I love the spice and cinnamon with my dark chocolate!). It was thick - almost like pudding and so I scooped it out with a miniature spoon to eat it.
We finished up there and finished walking around the market. We walked over the river that wound through the town, but the fog gave it a mysterious feel. I didn't purchase anything because there was nothing I needed. We walked back by an ice skating rink that opened up and a few of those little wooden cabins like we saw last night in Pordenone.
Andrew decided he needed to go back for his jacket so we drove back to the house for his jacket. I was warned about the bathrooms - that sometimes there are only porcelain basins you stand over, so I made sure to use the restroom at the house. We drove back to Sacile to the train station to board the train to Venice. We purchased tickets and had to wait about twenty minutes or so before it came. The train ride was a little over an hour in to the Venice station. We watched the countryside go by - there is so much farmland and vineyards around here.
We unloaded the train but the station wasn't too familiar to me until I saw the checked baggage area, which looked faintly familiar from my time here about nine years ago. I remember the police were somewhere along here too from going in a few times to try to track down my brother's lost wallet he had left on the train (and yes, we did eventually retrieve it in Trieste with all it's money and cards...miracle!).
We walked out of the station and into Venice. The buildings are so old but interesting. There are so many little shops selling masks, beads, glass, jewelry, sweets, and other things lining the narrow streets (and not streets like we think - we would call these walkways).
We hadn't gone too far until we came to Trattoria Pontini where Angela had recommended for lunch. I ordered the gnocchi gorgonzola which was very good. The gnocchi was so spongy and good. Chris had the lasagna, which is slightly different that what we usually have. The decor reminded me of the little hole in the wall Italian restaurants we see at home with the painted decor and fake grapes hanging around.
A great part about being here this time of the year is all the decorations that
are out. We were walking down one walkway and there were a bunch of shooting stars stretching across. I was hoping to see them turned on, and in a few moments, my wish was fulfilled. From that point on, there were a lot of lights hanging over us as we walked - balls of lights, icicle lights, or festive lights in the shops. I love the lights!
We looked in a few shops (my favorite are the masks shops with the big fancy old fashioned carnivale dresses and fancy little puppets). Andrew bought a nutella crepe (so good), and we stopped for many pictures. We crossed the Ponte di Rialto which spans the Grand Canal. The graffiti on the outside is a bit disheartening because it just makes it look trashy. Still, the view is breathtaking and the inner walkway between the shops that line the bridge was lit with blue and white lights.
A gondola man tried to convince me he would give us a good deal if we took a ride, but we didn't want to tonight, although I'm hoping Chris and I can return to do that.
We could hear a band of some sort playing Feliz Navidad in the distance. We caught up with them and it was some random group of people playing and singing. They only seemed to know one song and they were also headed to San Marcos like we were so we kept bumping in to them. It got that song stuck in our heads! At one point though, the church bells rung out. I love to hear the peeling of those bells echo across the historic buildings.
Andrew did a great job getting us to San Marcos Piazza which is the most famous spot in Venice because it holds the famous basilica and the Doge's Palace. We walked out and first came to a Christmas tree covered in white lights on the side of the basilica. The Campanella was rose high above the square and being projected on the side of the walls were snowflakes falling. Several men covered the square shooting up the little lights that fly high into the sky and then fall back to earth twirling color (they of course were persistent at trying to sell them to us and we bought some). The beautiful architecture of the surrounding buildings were warmly lit and the walkways along the shops had red lights wrapped around pine boughs with a blue ball of light hanging from the middle. Chris and I stopped for some gelato (glad I had a nice warm coat and gloves to help fight off the cold). We walked up closer to the stage at the far end (it was ruined by a huge advertisement hanging over it almost covering one end of the square) where there was a massive white mask and branches of white lights spraying out from it like crazy Medusa hair.
We decided to take a water bus back to the station, and I needed something warm to heat me up after the gelato, so I purchased hot chocolate. We walked by an expensive tea room as well, and if my mom was there, I'd make plans to come back and enjoy it with her.
Waiting for the water bus was so rocky, I waited on the stationary dock. When it came to load the bus, I had to sit in the very front to have fresh air and not feel sick. As cold as it was, it was so beautiful to see the buildings lining the canal all lit up. The half hour ride back was very enjoyable.
We caught the train back to Sacile, where Chris and I both napped briefly. We arrived back to the house in time to be introduced to the reality shows of Swamp People and Duck Dynasty. Pretty interesting....people live differently worldwide, and even within the US it is no different! I'm not sure what we are doing tomorrow, but this is pretty awesome being here!
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