strolling in italia...

after lunch, we went for a long walk along the rialto bridge and all over the place. there really was wisteria all over, and how much do you want that to be your porch?

here i am with bridges in the background...

there are all kinds of little squares in venice (our room looked out onto one), where people just sit for hours, chatting with neighbors, and what not. 

and when you are tired of walking, you can get a glass of wine and sit by the canal, and watch the gondoliers glide by. but if you buy one of these cheap, lacy scarves, do yourself a favor and rinse it out first. they dye is not very fast at all.... 

and here are carnival costumes to rent, if you'd like. and you can take a photo in them. ryan said no. next time.... next time...

i loved this: each house has it's own bridge leading the front door. this is awesome. 

the restaurants display their seafood on ice out front, and then periodically take it from the ice all night. there are live crabs, and other things too. ryan LOVED this. 

that's alive. 

this was our hotel. it is owned by 2 very nice, very friendly people, and you should stay here. but watch out for mosquitos. especially after march. 

we had dinner at trattoria al' greci, which is ryan's second favorite restaurant in the world: definitely his favorite italian. it was tasty: 

and this is the view we had from our table. no big deal. 

ryan is happy. 

this is the coolest lamp i've ever seen, bro. i love it. 

we had grilled veggies and spinach for an appetizer. so fresh and light and delicious. 

this little boy waved to to the gondoliers all night, and when the one who had dropped him off at the restaurant with his parents sailed by, he started yelling, "hey, franco! Franco! I'm wearing my hat like you are! i love you!" it was so cute. 

ryan's pasta with mussels and clams in a red sauce. he loved it. 

my spaghetti carbonara. so perfect in every way. 

ryan's fried seafood entree. 

i had steak in marinara and it was not very good, i hate to say. on the other hand, it's venice order the seafood. or, if you're foolishly picky, like me, order other things. lesson learnt. 

in a shop on the way home, we saw these. i feel that i should have the center one for visits to the dentist, and grocery shopping, and filing taxes. you know, the glamorous things i do all day...

 that is a creepy mask. 

and more seafood. ryan loved this; i can't tell you how much.