2 June 2010 Venice

2 June, Wednesday




I woke up to a beautiful day. I’m so glad for the sunny weather and not too hot days. After breakfast, I wanted to see fishing boats. A group of policemen were near the boats, I guess to keep things from heating up. Some of the boats honked their horns over night, but fortunately, it wasn’t loud for me.

Out for the day to just wander around and take lots of pictures, I headed the train station area. I went to a souvenir shop and chatted with the owner. Back in 2006 I had purchased a beaded necklace for my grandmother. At the time, she was 98 years old. The owner was thrilled that I was buying something for my grandmother. I took their photo outside their store. Today I gave them a copy (5x7) of the photo. He was very appreciative and gave me a key chain as a gift – a typical tacky souvenir chain, but I love it. His wife was home, so didn’t’ get the chance to say hello to her. We talked for a bit and even got on the subject of the oil spill. He was very sad for the local fishermen.



I walked to the train station and bought my tickets for a day trip to Ferrara for the next day. I have to get up early to catch the 8:27a.m. train. People were coming and going with their suitcases, some with huge suitcases! With all the bridges in Venice, it’s best to pack light.

I took this photo, which is a favorite spot in Venice. Took it back in 2006. This time there are not flowers in bloom.



Near the Rialto area, I had lunch ai Tre Spiedi. Lunch but very good but rich: Spinach stuffed tortellini with a cheese sauce and fresh spinach. I told the waiter I would return another night for dinner. Three handsome gondolier’s sat near me. I should have taken their picture.

For my last two nights in Venice, I booked a hotel in the Cannaregio area, so I walked by to make sure I could find it. It’s in a nice location, so I know I’ll enjoy it.

Since I was up so late last night (1:30am), I slowly headed back to the hotel to relax before dinner.

Barb arrived at my hotel at 6pm and we took the vaporetto to the San Toma stop. Dinner reservations were at 7:30pm so we found a place for drinks (Taverna da Baffo). It had been raining since about 4pm so we couldn't sit outside. With our drinks, the waiter gave us a mortadella and pepper on bread cicchetti. I ordered a ¼ liter of white wine and the waiter gave me extra, “Because I like you.”

We had dinner at Trattoria San Toma. The owner, Antiono, greeted us. I made reservations before I left for Venice. Dinner was very good but a little pricey. We both ordered the bruschetta for our appetizer.




I had the lamb chops, Barb had the sea bass, which the waiter prepared table-side,

and we shared a side dish of grilled vegetables. The restaurant was not crowded, but it was a holiday.

For dessert, we both had a glass of sgroppino, a delicious and refreshing drink made with sorbet, limoncello, and prosecco. Here's a recipe I found. http://www.drinksmixer.com/drink1c5d696.html

After dinner we went to Barb's apartment for some limoncello and a nice evening together talking about traveling, family, and other things. I was back in my room shortly after 11pm.

Trip to Venice, Italy - First 2 days

31 May 2010, Venice Italy


I arrived in Venice on an overcast day, but by 11:00am, the clouds broke up and the sun came out. My flight landed about 30 minutes early despite our 1-hour late departure out of Philadelphia (lots of air traffic). I purchased the 7-day VeniceCard prior to leaving the USA, which supposedly allowed me to take the water boat to Venice. Not so, so I took the local bus to Venice and then the vaporetto to the Zattere stop (#2), which was close to my hotel.

My room at Pensione La Calcina is very small. You walk in and take 2 steps down to the area where the twin bed, night table, and desk is located. To the right from the entrance are 2 steps up to the bathroom. There is a nice small balcony with a table and chair and a view of a small side canal. While the room is very small, it is charming with it' high ceiling, hardwood floors, neutral wall paper and tile in the bathroom.

I met my friends Ann and Kirk along with Candice, who were in Venice for the day. We met for lunch at Alle Zattere, which is located just down from my hotel. Three of us enjoyed pizza (mine with proscuitto) and Kirk had a pasta dish. It was great meeting friends for lunch. The restaurant is right on the water, so we enjoyed the views of the Guidecca canal.

After lunch, the three went their way and I went out to explore the area. It was great to be back in Venice. The day was beautiful and there were many tourists all around.

I tried to get money from three different ATMs, but for some reason, I couldn’t get any money. I wanted to get euros while at the airport, but a note posted at the ATM stated “maximum 250 euros). Well, I didn’t want to do multiple transactions, so I decided to wait till I got to Venice. I later realized I was using my bankcard instead of my debit card. Both are blue cards.

Being tired from a long flight and no sleep, I rested in the room for a while before going out to dinner.

I went to a grocery store, Billa, a 5-7 minute walk from my hotel. I purchased an inexpensive bottle of red wine for just 3.99 euros (and it was quite good!) and a bottle of limoncello (3.59 euros).

I made my way to a vaporetto stop and headed to dinner. I met up with the three from earlier today at La Zucca. I had dined here two years ago. Delicious food (tagliatelle with pistachio nuts and a gorgonzola sauce; and baked eggplant – shared a liter of wine), and a fun evening. The place was packed, as it’s a popular place.

After a short walk around the area, I took the vaporetto back to the Academia stop and walked back to my hotel. Anne Kirk, and Candice took the train back to Verona.

1 June, Tuesday

My hotel serves breakfast out on the terrace in good weather. It was a beautiful day. I ate some yogurt, sliced ham and cheese, bread, fruit, and tea. As I ate my breakfast, I watched a long procession of fishing boats. The fishermen were protesting some new law where they cannot use their fishing nets and minimum size requirement for fishing shrimp, calamari, and other fish. As they moved down the canal, they blew their horns loud and long.

I stepped inside the Museo della Musica, where I saw many old violins and other string instruments. The music of Vivaldi was playing while I was inside. I decided to purchase a ticket for a concert on Friday at 9pm. I had the choice of two concerts, one being Le quattro stagioni, The Four Seasons. Since I went to a similar concert in Paris, I chose the second one. I believe it’s a variety concert (25 euros).

I made my way to Piazza San Marco and toured the Basilica. I had downloaded a Rick Steve’s audio tour, so it made for a nice visit inside. The ceilings of the Basilica are amazing with the gold mosaics. The Piazza was filled with tourists and pigeons.

I wandered around the back streets, took pictures, and then had lunch at Osteria da Alberto. It was my second time there. At the table next to me (all are close together) I asked the woman how she liked her pasta with clams. “Excellent”. I ordered the same dish and I agreed with her. We started to talk and she asked me where I was from. When I said Maryland, she asked where. Frederick. "Are you Monica?" Yes! "I'm Barb.” We had met via the slow talk web site (discussion board) and had made plans to meet for dinner with a few other travelers. Small world. I couldn’t believe we were sitting next to each other.


After lunch, I went to the island of Burano. I spent 1.5 hours walking around the small streets. The houses in Burano are painted in different colors: Purple, blue, lavender, red, orange, etc. Many of the windowsills had potted plants and flowers. It’s such a colorful and charming place. Burano is known for lace making, although I believe most is produced in China.


It took 1.5 hours to get back to my hotel. I had to change to a different vaporetto at St. Mark’s. It’s great to have the 7-day transportation pass, where I can get on/off anytime I wanted to.

I met up with Barb, Jan, and Sandi for dinner at my hotel (their restaurant La Piscina) outside on the terrace. It was a pleasant evening. For dinner, I had the crostini misti and the pappardelle pasta with duck ragu. Everything was delicious and filling.

While dining, we could hear the horns of the fishing boats. Towards the west, the fishing boats were docked and tied together.


After dinner, Barb joined me for some wine on my tiny terrace. Chatted for an hour or so. I walked with her to her apartment, which was located about 5 minutes from my hotel. It was a nice walk back.

Photo of the Day: Tarragona Spain

Tarragona is a charming seafront town located an hour from Barcelona (and only 20 minutes from Poblet). The town has many Roman ruins, including an amphitheatre near the water front and aqueduct. There was an outdoor market that was closing up for the day. A small portion of the aqueduct was in the middle of the piazza. How wonderful to live among the ruins!

Poblet Monastery

November 2009: Poblet is one of the largest Cistercian abbeys in the world and dates from the 12th century. Located about an hour from Barcelona Spain, Tony and I went with some friends of mine and went on a Spanish-speaking guided tour (English brochures were handed out). The monastery was a peaceful place and included a beautiful courtyard with a fountain. The library was filled with old books and we saw where the monks dined. We were there in the fall, so we had the opportunity to enjoy the colorful scenery of the area.

Marseille, France

Marseille Vieux Port

Rome 2009 and a Few Photos

I really need to do more with my travel blog page, so I have decided to try to post on a daily basis a photo or two from my travels, and more when I include excerpts from my journals.

2-5 November 2009: Rome, Italy

I flew to Rome via Dulles International with friends Carolyn and Mark, Barb, Carol, Glenn and Sharon, and Glenn and Carol, as well as a few other fellow cruisers. We spent three nights in Rome before boarding the Celebrity Equinox for a 14-night transatlantic cruise to Florida.

We stayed at Hotel Giardino, located in the heart of Rome (my second stay there – basic 2-star hotel in an excellent location). I booked a car service with Stefano of Rome Cabs. Seven of us squeezed into a large van – our luggage barely fit.

I spent the first afternoon alone exploring the Jewish ghetto, Trastevere (lunch at Al Fontanone, Piazza Trilussa, 46), and Campo dei Fiori. In the late afternoon Mark and I walked to see the section of a 145 A.D. temple to the emperor Hadrian, which is incorporated into the side of a bank. We saw the church of Sant'Ivo alla Sapienza, designed by Borromini, an outstanding and unique example of Baroque architecture.

The group and I had a great dinner at Hostaria Romana. It was a fun place and we all had a great time. The restaurant walls were filled with graffiti and some of us added our names to the walls, although space was limited. I even peeked behind one of the framed photos on the wall only to find every inch of space written upon.

Glenn, Carol and I spent the next day together. We visited the indoor market of Testaccio and picked up a picnic lunch at Volpetti (47 Via Marmorata), a wonderful gourmet meat, cheese, and wine shop. A short metro ride, we visited Ostia Antica, an underrated sight with just a few tourists. The amphitheatre was quite impressive, as were the mosaic tiles in the Baths of Neptune. It rained in the morning but cleared up in time for our picnic lunch of panini's with olive bread, prosciutto, and buffalo mozzarella, and slices of pizza.

Tony arrived on the 4th and we spent the afternoon at the Roman museum and Baths of Diocletian. I was amazed at the size of the baths. I later shopped for bottles of wine to drink on the ship.

For our last evening, 30 fellow cruisers joined me at the Grotta Pinta lounge for drinks and tasty antipasti – so much food; we didn't go out to dinner. My friend Giancarlo introduced me to Sveva, manager of the lounge. Everyone had a great time.

The gang


Typical Roman Street


Ostia Antica

Ostia Antica

Delicious Pizza!
Outdoor cafe in Trastevere
Typical wall with planters hanging out windows
Vespa and graffiti
Colosseum at dusk

Sushi Lunch at Ziki's, a Japanese Steak House

I recently had lunch with my dad at Ziki Japanese Steak House, located on the second floor of the Annapolis Town Center, Annapolis, MD. There's a second location in Gaithersburg, MD (a lot closer to where I live).

The place was empty with the exception of 5 other diners. With its contemporary look, dark woods, hibachi tables, tables of various sizes, and sushi bar, I found the place welcoming - along with a cheerful Ira-shai!

I always enjoy sitting at the sushi bar so I can chat with the sushi chef and watch his magic. It takes years of schooling to master the art of sushi making.

Sushi is food that many people are afraid to try. "What, eat raw fish? No way!" Fortunately for me, having lived in many countries, including the Orient, I enjoy a wide variety of foods and I can dive into sushi anytime. Not all sushi is raw fish. A beginner can start with cooked shrimp, crab meat, vegetable rolls, even a sweet egg sushi.

I recently discovered white tuna, a wonderful mild-flavored fish, and I'll always ask if it's on the menu. It's my absolute favorite! It's almost buttery in taste and practically melts in your mouth. It's incredible. When dipping in the soy sauce, I only use a hint, as I do not want to miss out on the flavor of the fish.

For our lunch, we ordered the deluxe sushi and sashimi combo, which consisted of 16 pieces of sashimi and 8 pieces of sushi. Beautifully presented, thick slices of white tuna sat inside a martini glass with seaweed floating down the sides. Surrounding the glass was tuna, salmon, red snapper, and yellow tail.



The menu also has a very nice assortment of special rolls. We ordered the Queen Roll: Avocado and cucumber inside topped with spicy tuna (minced), and flying fish roe.



With every bite dad and I were in heaven. The chef kept a close eye on us as we sampled each piece making sure we were satisfied.

Behind the sushi bar is a display of Japanese dolls and bamboo boats for sushi.

I didn't look at their full menu but reviewing their web site, they do have a nice assortment of foods to choose from.

What I loved about this combination plate was the types of fish used. I've been to other Japanese restaurants where they seem to use a lesser quality fish or a cheaper type (such as imitation crab or cooked shrimp). The portions at Ziki's were ample and we walked out very satisfied.

Ziki Japanese Steak House
1908 Town Center, Blvd.
410-224-6598
http://www.zikijapanesesteakhouse.com/

Mon – Fri: 11am-10:30 pm
Sat: 11am-11pm
Sun: noon-10pm

Second location:
10009 Fields Rd.
Gaithersburg, MD 20878

PS: How could I have forgotten the delicious fried cheesecake that we ate for dessert! Our waitress recommended it to us. Coated with a light batter and deep-fried, the very center was still cold but the cheesecake towards the outside was warm and soft. A rich ending to a wonderful lunch.

Taste Local Wines

Today another article I wrote was published in the Italiannotebook.com web site. Buying local wines is always a treat, and extra special when buying from these types of shops. Check it out!

http://www.italiannotebook.com/food-wine/taste-local-wines/

Monica

Road Closed

This is my exit off 340 and Mt. Zion road where I live. If Ballenger Creek Pike (road parallel to 340 on the south side) is not cleared, then my neighborhood (and others) are stuck in our homes. The photo was taken right near the entrance ramp to get into 340 - the way I would go to work.

Tony and I saw this on the news last night. All day yesterday we heard helicopters (rescuing people) and snow plows. In the news last night, one plower stated it took 8 hours to clear 1/4 mile of road!

http://www.wfmd.com/cc-common/mainheadlines2.html?feed=119935&article=6765714

No such thing as global warming here!


Lucy enjoying the snow yesterday.

7 Jan 2010 Snow photos the day after

It's a beautiful morning, but I can't get out of my house. These were taken from my bedroom window. As you can see, the street is plowed. A neighbor had an emergency, so two HUGE plow trucks barreled through the neighborhood in minutes. I wish I had my camera with me last night, as I had never seen these types of plow trucks before - something out of a movie.

Lucy in her winter sweater; last photo with plowed driveway!

A few other photos

First photo is looking down from the second floor near the kitchen/breakfast area.
Second photo: Kitchen roof.
Third photo: looking out to the front/right area of the property.







Fourth photo: From the second floor of my house looking towards the front door/steps. The brick portion facing directly in front is the side wall of the garage. You can see the snow is half way up the wall towards the roof. No cars are getting out of the garage this weekend!

4:30pm: Latest photo showing snow measurements:

6 February 2010 Snow!

These were taken this morning. So far, we've gotten about 24 inches of snow. The snow will continue throughout the day, and will probably get a total of around 30 inches or more. I don't recall a winter like this before. I used the tube from Christmas wrap for my ruler.