Saturday, June 9, 2018: Late morning the six of us who were already in Venice left the hotel to go exploring. There was a church that was recommended by Rick Steves that Kristy wanted to see. There were a couple of maps involved and gps consulted but we were not successful in finding it. Luckily, it had stopped raining by this time which was a good thing since I forgot to get an umbrella at the hotel.

Don and Frankie had to head back to the hotel so they could meet Celia and Barb, who were arriving. The rest of us then took off to find Piazza San Marco. The ‘streets’ in Venice are narrow and have a lot of twists and turns. There are delivery men with large carts that are hauling wine, water, and many other things needed by the shops and restaurants by pushing or pulling them along. Obviously, they are all in very good shape.

Gps can be hit or miss but mine finally started keeping up with us as we walked so we finally made it to the piazza. It was large and full of people, pigeons, and cameras. There were two young children feeding the pigeons and were covered and surrounded by the poopy things and screaming the whole time.

Poopy Pigeons and Screaming girls

Basilica San MarcoMarble columns of many colorsPiazza San Marco

The front of the basilica was amazing with many different things going on. The columns of many colors of marble caught my eye. There was so much to take in that I know I missed a lot.

I think my favorite thing in the piazza was the clock tower. It had a face with the hours in Roman numerals and the astrological signs, the Earth and moon, and above it the hours clicked by in 5 minute increments.

San Marco Clock Tower Face

San Marco Clock tower

The grand canal runs along one edge of the piazza and was like Interstate 5 at rush hour in Seattle. Ok, maybe not that bad but there were a lot of boats.

Grand Canal

Grand Canal

We made our way back to the hotel and put our feet up for a bit then decided it was time for lunch. Ann, PK (Patrice) and I went down the street a little ways and stopped at Osteria au Cravate. It seems most of the restaurants have fixed price menus. There was a fish based one and a meat based one. I ordered the spaghetti with cuttlefish ink and the sea bream. The pasta was very good. The sea bream a little fishy and had some bones.

Cuttlefish Spaghetti

Don, Frankie, Rob and Kristy showed up and sat at the next table. They had been sitting with Celia and Barb as we were leaving the hotel so I had texted them to let them know where we were. Celia and Barb had headed to their room for a nap after their long trip from Palm Springs.

Ann, PK, and I headed back to the hotel then as it was around 3:30 and took naps of our own. I am not usually able to take naps, but we had shared a couple bottles of wine, so that along with jet lag had us all sleepy. I woke after about 45 minutes but fell back asleep again.

I was awakened by a text from Frankie telling me that Don, Celia, Barb and him were going to dinner at a place nearby to arrive around 7:00, since Celia and Barb were hungry. I wasn’t hungry yet and needed to take a shower so decided not to go. Ann and PK were going with them, also.

I took a quick shower and was catching up on social media when I received another text saying they didn’t go to the original restaurant. Frankie said he thought I would like the one they were at. By that time I was ready to go and met them there.

Osteria da Baba was not too far from the hotel and Frankie had seen it earlier in the day and thought it looked interesting. It was a very small, local place. Barb has had two knee replacements so stairs and walking are still a challenge, which is why they decided not to go to original. Lucky for us!

They had already ordered and were doing a version of the fish menu, with exceptions for Don and Ann as they aren’t quite as adventurous of eaters. Since I had come late, I did my own thing.

The waiter brought over a chalkboard with the 4 dinner options, again fixed price. Being the adventurous eater that I am, I ordered the one with tripe. I didn’t really know what the other things were but figured I wanted something different. It started with a thick round pasta (bucatini) with sausage and peas, then two spicy meatballs (said with fake Italian accent), then a dish that took some interpretation.

It looked like mushrooms but was beef lung and polenta. It tasted like a cross between liver and gizzards and was actually quite good. I was sitting next to Frankie and he was game to try each dish. I think the chef and waiters were watching me to see my reaction since I am sure most Americans don’t try things like that.

The final dish was Trippa alla Parmigiana. It also was very good, creamy and very cheesy but I think I liked the lung better. Celia also tried a taste of that as she likes tripe. Overall, it was a very nice meal and amusing company.

Osteria da BabaFrankie, Celia, and BarbBucatini with Sausage and PeasPolpetti alla Puttanesca Our waiter who spoke a little EnglishPolenta with lungsTrippa alla Parmigiana The Menu

We got back to the hotel around 10:30 and Ann, PK, and I chatted for a while then I went to bed. They stayed up later talking, and it after 11:30 when I went to sleep. I woke up around 1:30, then again at 6:00. Didn’t think I would get back to sleep but I did and slept like the dead until 8:30.

Today I am adventuring out by myself, so we will see what kind of trouble I can get in.