PIZZA- Italy!

 PIZZA IN ITALIA

    Another one of our must do’s while in Italy was; eat pizza! Everyone knows Italy for its pasta, its bread, it gelato and other fine desserts, and also its PIZZA!!! I mean they practically invented it, hahaha I mean they did, they did invent it. So while travelling through Italy, go for it, have yourself a pie.

     Our first pizza experience was in Venice at a place beside our hotel called Trattoria All’Aquila. We were wooed in by the maitre d, and seated. We figured on splitting one, but were told that they were small, and got one each instead. He lied, they were huge, but they were delicious! The thing that makes Italian pizza different is the crust, so super thin that you have to eat it with a knife and fork, or fold it over itself, either way is acceptable. So we both eat half our pizza, and stack the other half ready to wrap, mmm, we got lunch for tomorrow, but I guess there are not used to take out there, after clearing our plates, we watch as he slid the entire contents into the garbage. It was a sad, sad day for pizza lovers everywhere.

    This was not our last pizza experience mind you, there was that one in Florence in our hostel, and the one in Rome by the Coliseum, and they just kept getting better and better. Do yourself a favor however and share, they are large, and please, please whatever you do, ask him to wrap it up, don’t expect him to know because you have neatly stacked it in a take home manner. Actually I have an even better idea, use napkins.

Happy Birthday Sarah in Venice Italy

 My Birthday in Venice

    It’s very hard to pick where you want to be on your birthday when you are travelling Europe. It couldn’t be Spain, that much I knew, but Paris, Italy, Turkey? I had never been to any of them, and they all held their charms. In the end it was simple timing that made the choice. We had to catch a flight in Rome on the 18th, so Venice it was, pretty good choice Universe, thank you.
    As we have already stated, Venice is beautiful, and one of the things that is a must do while visiting is a gondola ride. Isn’t that everyone’s dream to be pushed around in a boat, by a gentleman wearing strips and a straw hat, while singing Italian love songs? Well there was no singing, but as a birthday present Kristen and I splurged and split on a ride. Now technically it was the day before my birthday, but my actual birthday was supposed to be rainy so we went early.   

 We got a great deal, well actually we have no idea not having anything to reference it to, but we were told the ride was 80 Euros, but he gave us 45 minutes for 70, although he did jip us 10 minutes on the ride. Never the less we got our gondola ride. Around the water canals we were pushed, while getting snippets of history and architecture. The most fun part of the ride was everyone taking your picture as you past by. Every bridge, and there were a lot, had 20 something people ready to take a shot. Kristen and I are probably now in 700 random peoples Venice Vacation photo albums, so keep your eyes peeled.   

 On my actual birthday planned to go out for dinner. Venice has an incredible amount of restaurants, millions I am sure, and they all offer tourist menus, which is a 2 or 3 coarse meal for a cheap price. We picked Al Cantinon, just a little ways off the main strip. In truth it was why we picked it, it was quiet and cute, right on the water, and they had gnocchi, I had been craving gnocchi.
     We had drinks to start on the terrace beside the water, and then moved inside for our dinner. We grabbed a bottle of Italian wine, I had the tourist menu, with had gnocchi in a four cheese cream sauce to start, and steak for dinner, while Kristen got the Bolognaise. Her pasta came with my gnocchi, with turned out to be a good thing, since the gnocchi was to my disappointment not very good. I have no idea how it is possible, but the gnocchi was the same texture as the sauce, which was no texture at all, it was very strange, but being content with sharing Kristen’s, and then sharing the steak, we continued on with our meal. Everything else was amazing, and the service was extraordinary. Our server really went out of her way for us, and made our dining experience special. Venice is a very good place to spend your birthday!
If you are ever in Venice try Al Cantinon;
www.osteriaalcantinon.it

Venice Italy, a First Impression

     We take a bus from Paris to Venice, and we managed to get a seat together this time. This was not easy I should add people were pushing shoving and practically fist fighting to get on the bus. I honestly have never seen anything like it. Even waiting to put our suitcase on the bus people budded and pushed. I patiently waited until everyone else fought their way through, and put ours on last. The bus driver asked me where I was from at this point, and I said Canada, he laughed at this, of course I was from Canada.

    We get dropped off in Venice, or so we are told. It is literally a parking lot, there is water, and some industrial looking buildings, and not much else. So what do we do? Is there a boat? A ferry? We have no wifi, and there is no one even around to ask. We then see a sign to a Metro, sort of.

    We go up to this “Metro”, and get in. It seems there are 3 stops, the one we are at, the Marina, and another one that’s name means nothing to either of us. We get to the Marina, and it looks much like the stop we just left, maybe even a bit more industrial, where the h@#l are we? Next stop looks better, at least there are people, still no sign of the Venice we have pictured.

We ask directions to a hostel, and simply get told to go over the bridge. I don’t want to! We have no idea where we are, there are 6 men asking to carry my bag for 5 Euros, no thank you, and unless I do pay some strange man to carry my bag, I will have to drag “The Beast” over the bridge. But again, it must be done, so I drag “The Beast” up and over this bridge, and there it is the water canals, the gondolas, the streets lined with Venetian masks. It is all everyone has ever said it would be, it’s beautiful. Yup, we are in Venice. 

Eiffel Tower - Paris, France

WE MADE IT and we lucked out, our one rain free sunny say we decided to venture over to the Tour Eiffel!

It was busy, but not as bad as I was expecting! Tourists all snapping pictures of the world renowned tower, and "street vendors" trying to sell you miniature versions, saying hello in every language possible until they feel they have found the right one! (helpful tip, if you say No thank you in the native language of what ever country you are in they tend to only ask you 4-5 times, not like when you respond in English and the follow you for 8 blocks!)

We didn't go up, we didn't feel we needed to, after all the best view in this part of the city is from the ground looking up! (also it costs WAY to much, and we already had an incredible city view for free from the hill at "Sacre Coeur").

We spent a lovely afternoon snapping pictures and admiring the view, and also enjoying some yummy treats from a near by cafe! A tangy lemon and a buttery pecan tart with coffees to finish up!

Au revoir Paris, à bientôt and thank you for everything... especially the cheese :) ! 

Tomorrow we are off to Italy...Venice to be more specific! See you soon!

La Duree - Paris France

Before going to Paris, the one thing everyone told me was "YOU HAVE TO GO TO LA DUREE". I had herd of it before, and I do like Macaroons, but I really had no idea why everyone was so passionate and excited about this shop!

We walk in and it was rows and rows of incredibly sweet smelling, brightly colored little circles of amaingness, lining the counter! There are tarts and pastries and macaroon towers, coffee, tea and even a bar in the back!

The people that work the counter move the line along very quickly, so fast that I didn't even have a chance to look at all the flavors! They were pleasant but seemed a little bit impatient with the customers who all seemed to be distracted and intoxicated by the wonderful aroma! I ordered quickly, choosing some traditional flavors like Vanilla and pistachio, then some of the more interesting ones like rose and blood orange! Sarah and I both got a box for gifts, and then we decided to get a couple to try for ourselves! We shared, Vanilla, rose, salted caramel and blood orange. Let me tell you, they were all melt in your mouth SPECTACULAR! The shop was incredible, so wonderful in fact that the hurried service of the counter staff doesn't seem to bother me or deter me from going back! Actually I don't think anything will stop me from going back! 

I for sure had a "travel moment". There I was walking on the streets of Paris with one of my best friends enjoying one of the best things to come out of the city! Between the amazing cheese, macaroon and wine....I would be in serious trouble if I lived in Paris!

We were not actually allowed to take pictures inside the shop, as I found out in a lot of shops in Paris....after I took a picture and got in trouble! But!! We did manage to get a few before we ran out!

Dinner Out In Paris France

    Being on a five month get away, you can’t exactly afford the luxury of fancy dinners out every night, especially in Paris. You can find very affordable spots however, with really great food, and cheap wine. We managed to get in two dinners out, and both very impressive;


Bouillion Chartier

    Emmanuel chose this place; it is very popular, with good food and cheap prices. It’s is very old, and used to feed blue collar workers home style cooked meals at inexpensive prices. Part of the decor is many little chubby holes that the workers could keep their tabs in while awaiting pay day.

    First I had the snails; you have to have snails in Paris. The problem was I ordered 12, thinking that one of the other 7 people at the table would have some, and they didn’t. 3 or 4 snails are enough for me. Next I had the duck confit, and this was a very pleasant surprise. I have had my share of duck confit, and it is fall off the bone tender. This little guy came out looking dry, and crisp. But after removing the skin, the meat was just as tender as I am used to, but I also had crispy skin! Amazing!

    Kristen had a beautiful salad to start, and the steak for dinner. The steak had great flavour, but was very fatty and tough in spots. It was probably a translation problem, but it definitely wasn't the cut of meat she thought she was getting, but it was not a total loss. The whole meal cost us 30 Euros!

George’s Place

    After a long day of touring, we found ourselves in the swank part of Paris, and starving! So what to do? We walk a few blocks, and down a little side street, and find George’s. It is a beautiful and quant looking place, with a server that takes your hand to show you to the table, and a piano man to boot.

    We got a tomato and mozzarella salad to start, because we somehow felt we had not had enough cheese, and this time I got the steak, and Kristen got the duck. Everything was beautiful. Kristen’s duck was juicy, but lacking crispy skin mind you. My steak was cooked to a perfect med rare and covered in a truffle sauce that I honestly think I could just drink. Both came with a big helping of dimed potatoes, and veggies, we could just say we were both really happy. So this meal was a little more expensive, although sitting here right now I can’t  remember the exact cost, it wasn’t extravagant however, I’m going to put in an educated guess of 65 Euros, and that included wine. We both agreed that in Toronto, the cost would be way higher.

La Basilique du Sacre Coeur de Montmartre Sacred Heart, Paris France

    Sacred Heart is a Roman Catholic Church located in the heart of Paris. What makes this place even more appealing to tourists is that it’s located at the very highest point in the city, on the summit of Montmarte, which means great views all around, literally! But now for the bad part, I’m sure it has been mentioned I am not a fan of stairs, or hills. One or two flights ok, 17 or more and I’m out, but sometimes you have to suck it up to see the important things.
    So up we climb, I didn’t count them, and I didn’t want to know to be honest. The only thing I was thinking about was how much this sucked, and how it better be worth it. So far the explanation that there was a church on top wasn’t doing it for me. Well we get to the top, and there is a church, it is a nice church, sure. Then there is the view, ok it’s a spectacular view, but I have to let my heart beat back to normal before I will grudgingly admit to it.
We start to walk a little farther in, and there is a whole little city, like its own little community. There is art in the park, tiny cafes, darling little houses, shops selling the sweetest little postcards, and low and behold, there is a race about to start. We parked ourselves on a patio and had a Fanta, (Fanta always makes everything better, ALWAYS!) and watch the world run past.
Fantas done, and realizing we are going to be late for our next tour, Kristen, Emmanuel, and I stroll back to climb down the steps, down is fine with me by the way, and I decide that yes, it was defiantly worth it. Then I saw the Tram, the one that takes you from the bottom to top for the cost of a metro ride. If you go, take the Tram!