"Matt, Take Me To Europe!"

You can afford to go to Europe. As a matter of fact, you can't afford not to.

to Barcollo for prosecco

Wed, 15 June 2016, 6:22 pm: Prosecco as your first drink of the evening is a local custom, so sign me up. It’s on the white wine list behind me, along with nine others, all priced to move.

When I take you to Venice, you’re not going to end up in boring, overpriced tourist-centric restaurants. You’re going to eat where the Venetians do.

Opened in 2012, Barcollo has earned a following among university students with its Friday night DJ sets and convivial outdoor seating. Inexpensive wine and snacks and a keen location near the Rialto Bridge ensure that it’s not just college kids who stop by.

I wanted something for my prosecco to wash down, so from the wide selection of small sandwiches I chose a speck-and-gorgonzola (basically a ham-and-cheese with way more bread than ham or cheese). I can’t give it a rave review, but it was only 1,50 E.

There it is again, with my prosecco and a crocchette patate, which is a croquet stuffed with minced potato with mozzarella and proscuitto. At 2,00 E. it was hearty for its size if not super-flavorful.

This curlicued sandwich could’ve used a bit more meat, but for just a couple of the coins rattling around in your pocket, who’s complaining? That’s the compromise with some of the “snacks as dinner” places here in Venice: the food isn’t memorable, but it AND the drinks are dirt cheap, and if the booze is flowing you won’t care that the appetizers aren’t Michelin-starred.

You’re not limited to finger foods; Barcollo has full meals on offer. That handwritten menu behind me includes lasagne, salmon, and gnocchi.

My prosecco bottle is there on the right, along with another wine my party sampled.

Matt October 26, 2016 Italy, restaurants, Venice No Comments

catching a buzz… to Venice

Wed, 15 June 2016, 11:47 am: In a drizzle I snap this shot of the AirBerlin prop plane we’re about to board on the Dusseldorf airport’s tarmac.

The propellers have a buzz like Kiefer Sutherland at a New Year’s Eve party. They make it sound like we’re being lofted to Venice by a swarm of burly bees.

1:28 pm: Ninety minutes into our approximately two hour flight from Dusseldorf to Venice, this is our view.

2:10 pm: During landing at Marco Polo Airport, I was a bit unnerved as the pilot navigated with his eyes closed, repeatedly calling out “Marco” as ground control came back with “Polo.”

Who knows the scene in RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK this reminds me of? (Clean-up on runway three.)

This small airport is on the mainland of Italy. After our overnight flight and our second flight from Germany, we’re more than ready to find the nearest docks and set sail for the actual island of Venice.

Matt October 25, 2016 at the airport, Germany, Italy, Neither Here Nor There, on the plane No Comments

2016’s first boat ride in Venice

Wed, 15 June 2016, 3:30 pm: As our public transport boat pulls away from the dock, another boat pulls in to take its slot.

I guess all the visitors in line behind us who didn’t make it onto our boat will now stand there for thirty minutes and then be herded onto that next blue line boat (above on the left).

Eight minutes into the ride, key Venice landmarks begin to come into view.

On the other side of the island looms a gigantic cruise ship, one of many that deposits tourists onto Venice all summer long.

Towers and buildings you’ve only seen in photos gradually appear as the boat motors through the water.

The ride from the airport’s docks to the various stops on Venice proper takes between an hour and ninety minutes. You’ll want to know before you board which stop is nearest to your hotel. San Michele in Isola is a Catholic church on an island in the Venetian lagoon.

In addition to all the airport transport boats and water taxis, you’ll often see personal speedboats and private yachts moving around the lagoon.

I had one of the seat rows all to myself despite the crowd. I think the boat was heavy with luggage, restricting the number of additional passengers who could board.Colonna is a stop on the island of Murano for Alilaguna and other transport boats. It’s the first stop on our ride from the airport.