7.19.2010

a Venezia!



The boys picked me up from the train station in the boat, which was a first for me. 

It was Enrico's papa's boat, and we were Chris (Enrico's roommate from Ithaca), Tomaso and Mattia, two of Enrico's friends from growing up. 





Then we found this pretty girl and decided to bring her along too. 







I got really sad that the fish market was closed (it was Sunday afternoon), so I stood under the price list. 

But then Enrico took us to this cafeteria-like "choose-your-own" fresh seafood place, and I ordered a plate of squid in it's ink, sardines, octo salad, cod spread and some other amazingly fresh, pickled and cured ocean-based items. Chris was really excited to try things, and then Enrico asked how he liked the squid ink, and as soon as he realized what he was eating he declared it "abhorrently disgusting." 

He looks like he's having fun, but really he's just happy because I ate everything so that he didn't have to. 

Afternoon spritz cures everything, though. It doesn't take much. 


Festa del Redentore, Venezia

Last weekend was the annual Venetian Festa del Redentore, which is an evening dedicated to the Redeemer. Everyone who has a boat, knows someone who has a boat or has enough money to get on a boat packs a picnic, enough alcohol to drown what fish are left in the sea, and drives through the canals until they reach a spot in the middle of the water that they deem "good." Then the drop anchor and hang out until 12:30 at night, when the most awesome display of fireworks I have ever seen explodes above their heads. Enrico grew up in Venice and has a boat there, and all his friends came back for the festivities, plus Perla and Chris, Enrico's roommate from Ithaca.