I'm such a bad tourist... why? because I don't like tourists. The ones that just stop in the middle of the road. The ones that walk really slow, talk too loud, read verbatim out of Frommers to their friends... I try not to be that person, but inside, I know there are Italians looking at me and thinking "get out of my way!" So today, I went to Lido, a small island in the lagoon of Venice. I rented a bike for the day, rode all over the island (it's only 12 km long), sat on a deserted beach for a while and lolled the day away with biking, prosecco, reading and a day free from the masses. It was wonderful.
While here, I've really been trying to hone my italian, what little of it I know. I've decided that I can easily say "hi" and "bye" - doh Ciao.... and make the morning nicities to the waitress in the hotel. I've just keep trying and today at the coffee shop, the waiter in Lido was very awesome. He didn't answer me in English like just about everyone else does. He made me work for it, and it worked. I ordered a coffee, with hot milk, picked out the little pizza that I wanted, responded that I wanted to sit outside, found the bathroom (and learned that it was occupato at that moment), and paid the bill. Seems small, but it was a minor victory for me. So for now, I'm going to keep trying, even if they respond to me in English, though it will probably be a challenge for both them and me, especially when I see them make those squinty eyes letting me know they have no idea what I'm trying to say.
The gelato craze is not a farce. Everyone (and I mean everyone) is constantly walking around with an ice cream cone. They have all kinds of flavors - tiramisu, coconut, creme della san marco (to please the tourists, I guess), creme della caramel... you name it, they have it. The thing is though, every day I want to want gelato. But there are so many other little delights that I want to try they the gelato just falls by the wayside. Like today, at the coffee shop, they had pizzas, but not your regular pizzas. They were a mix between puff pastry and pizza dough and they were little - fist sized - filled with everything you can imagine - soprossetto, pepperoni, sardines, mushrooms. So good that I'll them over gelato any day.
Tomorrow is my last day in Venice and I'm going on a day trip to Cortina and the Dolomite mountains. I hear that it's gorgeous, can't wait to see.
~k
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2 comments:
ok we ate pizza tonight....did not sound nearly as fun as yours and your time sounds wonderfully relaxing....ps your car is taking a pummeling from so many acorns..we are in full fall here--I needed a sweater today....how is the weather in Italy? If you are biking I gather it is nice...kelly
Pizza, cool, did you make it? in the city areas, it is definitely still warm - in the 70s or warmer every day. The mornings and nights are getting a little cooler. Now that I'm in the country, it's been around the 50s in the morning and high 60s during the day.
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