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  1. Depart Austin

VENICE

    April 30 - May 3

  1. Venice Airport

  2. Place to Stay

  3. Things to See

  4. Dorsoduro
  5. Others
  6. Gallerie dell'Accademia
  7. Palazzo Grassi - museum and cafe. 
    Campo Santa Margherita -- On this spacious campo, 
Tuesday through Saturday from 8:30am to 1 or 2pm, a number of open-air stalls set up shop, 
selling fresh fruit and vegetables. You should have no trouble filling out your picnic 
spread with the fixings available at the various shops lining the sides of the campo, 
including an exceptional panetteria (bakery), Rizzo Pane, at no. 2772, 
and other picnic accessories next door. 
There's even a conventional supermarket, 
Merlini, just off the campo in the direction of the quasi-adjacent 
campo San Barnabà at no. 3019. This is also the area where you'll find 
Venice's heavily photographed floating market operating from a boat moored 
just off San Barnabà at the Ponte dei Pugni. 
This market is open daily from 8am to 1pm and 3:30 to 7:30pm, 
except Wednesday afternoon and Sunday. You're almost better off 
just buying a few freshly prepared sandwiches (panini when made with rolls, 
tramezzini when made with white bread). 

Read more: more Venice

  8. Places to Eat

    1. Dorsoduro
      1. Campo Santa Margherita
      2. Osteria Enoteca Oniga - Venice, Campo San Barnaba 2852, Dorsoduro. Opening hours: 12am-2,30pm and 7pm-10,30pm. It closes on Tuesday. Specialties: giant tortelloni with crawfish and "finferli" mushrooms, red tagliatelle with squills. Among the restaurants that offer mainly seafood dishes. Please contact: phone +39 041 5224410, fax +39 041 0997534.
      3. Riviera
      4. Cantinone Gia Schiavi Fodor's - Rio De San Trovaso vaporetto Zattere - great cheap snacks - canal side
      5. Osteria Ai Quatro Feri - closed Sunday map
      6. TimeOut Tonolo - 2€-4€ great sweets
      7. "Trattoria Dona Onesta - generous wine pours mussels clams - reasonable - calle Dona Onesta
    2. Cannaregio
      1. Osteria da Alberto - calle Giacinto Gallina Cannaregio 5401
      2. Da Alberto - transport Rialto Bridge. closed Sunday
      3. Bentigodi-Osteria da Andrea hot spots - closed Sun & Mon
      4. Alla Vedova - closed Thursday Ramo Ca d'Oro
      5. graphic website **Algiubagio -S Fondamenta Nuove - great entrees 3-8€
      6. Ai Promessi Sposi - calle dell' Oca entrees 7-10€ closed Wednesday No credit cards
      7. guardianOsteria Ai Osti Corte dei Pali Testori, Cannaregio 3849; 041 5207993 and La Bea Vita Fondamenta delle Cappuccine, Cannaregio 3082; 041 2759347 and Fondamenta Ormesini 2754 both cheap with view
      8. Jewish Museum
      9. Enoteca do Colonne - Canneregio 1814/c sandiwiches filled with pork or salumi $30 for two
    3. San Polo and Santa Croce
      1. lunch at La Zucca San Giacomo dell'Orio, Santa Croce 1762; 39-041/524-1570; dinner for two $90. **
      2. Il Refolo 1459 Santa Croce, Campo San Giacomo dall'Orio $30 couple Venice's most elegant pizzaria
      3. Sandro Pizza - Address: Da Sandro, San Polo 1473, Campiello dei Meloni - Directions: Da Sandro is located in the San Polo district of Venice. From the Campo San Polo walk east towards Campiello dei Meloni where it is located on either side of the street. The Pizzeria is on the right side, whereas a trattoria and bar are on the left side. Reservations not necessary.
      4. Restaurant list
      5. Da Pinto - closed Mon - good pizza - Campo delle Beccarie
      6. Alla Patina - Ponte San Palo - 7-15€ Closed Sun.
      7. Do Mori - Calle Do Mori - Cichette 2-3€ - great atmosphere. transport Rialto or San Silvestro
      8. Pronto Pesce - great seafood - across from The Rialto Market - closed Sunday and Monday
      9. Da Fiore
      10. Antiche Carampane website fodor's
      11. Cichetti 'da Lele'
    4. Castello
      1. Pizzeria alla Strega - Barbaria delle Tole 6418 | Castello, Venice, Italy * 39 041 5286497
      2. Ristorante al Giardinetto da Severino Castello, 4928 Location: Centro storico
      3. Trattoria Chinellato (budget)Venice, Calle degli Albanesi 4227, Castello, close to the ancient Prisons. Open everyday: 10,00-15,00. Special plates: spaghetti with clam sauce, liver venetian style. Among family run restaurants open only for lunch. Information: phone +39 041 5236025.
      4. Osteria alle Testiere Castello 5801, Reservations required for each of 2 seatings. Mon-Sat 2 seatings at 7 and 9:15pm. 041/522-7220
      5. Osteria al Mascaron Calle Lunga Santa Maria Formosa, Castello. stock-fish puree with olive oil, scallops, in tomato sauce or spaghetti with lobster
      6. Frommer'sAciugheta - entrees 9-15€ Campo Santi Flippo e Giacomo
      7. Querini Stampalia Museum
      8. Rosa Salva / Castello Cafe - great place to hang out - beautiful square - cappuccino sandwiches - Campo Santi Giovanni 2-4€
      9. Enoteca Mascareta Calle Lunga Santa Maria Formosa, Castello
    5. San Marco
      1. Visit the Caffe Florian website
      2. Da Mamo - pizza good menu. Calle Stagneri 5251, Camp San Bartolomio 12-3pm 7-12pm every day.
      3. Fiaschetteria Toscana
      4. Acqua Pazza - lively Pizzeria - Closed Monday - Campo Saint Angelo post coffee limoncello are on the house
      5. Frommer's Vino Vino -closed Tuesday Calle del Cafetier vaporetto to Zattere, head for Il Cantinone Fondamenta Nani 992, closed Sun NOT SURE IT BELONGS HERE
      6. Cava Tappi - located on Piazza San Marco. Venetian dishes sandwiches - Campo Della Guerra - closed Monday and Sunday
      7. Acqua Pazza San Angelo, San Marco indoor outdoor pizzaria. 9-25€

  9. Ferry Routes

FLORENCE

    May 4 - May 7

  1. Transportation

    1. TRAIN TRAVEL

      1. Get from Stazione Centrale to Molo Beverello

        To reach the port at Molo Beverello from Stazione Centrale, you should first buy bus tickets from a news-stand in the station. A single ticket costs €1. The R2 bus departs from the far end of Piazza Garibaldi, in the centre of the traffic (past the rows of other buses). The journey takes about 10-15 minutes, depending on traffic. You should alight by Piazza Municipio - just ask the driver or fellow passengers for Molo Beverello; there will probably be plenty of other travellers with suitcases taking the same trip. The ferry terminal is located at the bottom end of the square (on your left). Returning from the ferry to the station, you can take tram number 1, which stops in the middle of the road by the port, or you can head uphill over the grassy area by the castle towards a row of pines to reach the R2 stop.

      2. Ferry companies in Naples

        Alternatively you can brave the breakneck driving of a Naples taxi driver; there is a rank outside the station and another by the ferry terminal.

      3. To get from Venice St. Lucia Train Station to Florence Santa Maria Novella Train Station.
      4. To get to hotel in Venice, take Bus A to Parione Stop and walk past Limbo to SS Apostoli if you get to Ponte Vecchio you have gone too far.

      5. Walking route - make way east along Edicoloa Piazzastazione Sncto until you get to Piazza della Stazione, turn left to stay on Piazza della Stazione, turn right to stay on Piazza della Stazione, turn right on Via degli Avelli, turn left at Piazza di Santa Maria Novella, continue to Via delle Belle Donne, left on Via della Spada, right on Via de' Tornabuoni, continue to Piazza di Santa Trinita, continue onto Porgo Santi Apostoli.

      6. Pay Roberto $250 euros upon check in
      7. Roberto Leone
        Rentop Florence
        Viale Lavagnini, 41
        50129 Firenze - Italy
        tel.+39 055 490744
        mob.+39 333 3634942
        www.rentopflorence.com
      8. Train Travel - consider a Trenitalia Saver Pass - 3 days travel w/in a 2 month period - for 2 or more travelers $143 pp plus $19 for each additional day. Leaving Venice from San Lucia Train Station to Florence.

    2. Transportation

    3. BUSES
      1. tickets can be bought at news stands, most buses can be picked up along side the train station buy several tickets at once they become valid when you time stamp them ATAF Bus is in the Peretola area 3 miles west of central Florence. On ATAF #22 you will be taken to within a 6 minute walk of the apartment. Walking begins at Vecchietti - Flow Store(Fs).
      2. map to our apartment on St. Apostoli near the Arno and Uffici.
      CHECK IN
      1. Apartment Lily - Borgo Santi Apostoli, 14 50123 Firenze, Italy

  2. Place To Stay

    1. Lily
    Borgo Ss. Apostoli.
    Roberto Leone
    Rentop Florence
    Viale Lavagnini, 41
    50129 Firenze - Italy
    tel.+39 055 490744
    mob.+39 333 3634942
    www.rentopflorence.com

  3. Things To See

    1. Chirico, Max Ernst, Magritte, Balhus exhiibit a few feet from our apartment. They also had newspapers, cappachino and cresant rolls. It was called the Firenze Palazzo Strozzi.
    2. Uffizi - buy tickets from Uffizi.com in advance to avoid long wait, or do like Lisa did and go to the 3-4 Euro scalpers.
    3. Bargello Museum - sculpture, medals and bronze - book in advance
    4. Accademia
    5. Duomo
    6. Stroll the Boboli Garden cross at pointe Vecchio.

  4. Places To Eat

    1. Da Ganino - entrees 6-20€ closed Sunday. Piazza de' Cimatori, 4-red, 50122 Firenze, Italy055 21 41 25
    2. Il Pennello* - oldest Tratorria antipasti table - 7.50-13€ - Via Dante Alighieri - closed Mon and Tue. Via Dante Alighieri, 4, 50122 Firenze, Italy055 29 48 48?
    3. Le Mossacce - main Courses 3.50-9€ - via del Proconsolo.
    4. Nerbone* - its a stand - beef dip sandwiches entrees 3-7€ Mercato Centrale closed Sunday.
    5. da BenVenuto - cheap solid Tuscan food - Via Della Mosca 13r in Santa Croce.
    6. Osteria De'Benci - cheap - Via De Benci - meats cheeses spaghetti.
    7. Trattoria Marione - good home cooking - Via della Spada 27.
    8. Enoteca Fuori Porta - sandwiches, appetizers 2-7€ sit in or outside patio -Via thru the gate at San Mineato Monte Alle Croci closed Sunday Best Bar.
    9. Cantinetta Verrazanno - via del Tavolini 1-3€ stylish wine bar, Via dei Tavolini, 18/r.
    10. Cibreo Tratoria - Locals here Via del Macci - santa Croce.
    11. Osteria Antica Mescita - near Oltarno always crowded good and cheap via San Niccolo next to church closed Sunday. Via San Niccoḷ 60/r, San Niccoḷ, Florence, 50122 Phone: 055/2342836
    12. Pallottino - charm full of art and pics - Via Isoa delle Stinche - Santa Croce.
    13. Al Tranval - Popular with locals lively trattoria inexpensive - Piazza Torquato
    14. Da Mario - lively trattoria soups meats pastas sides - reasonable - Via Rosina 2r angolo Piazza del Mercato Centrale
    15. Il Pizzaiuolo - Lively - seafood salad, pasta, pizza, antipastas - Southern italy dishes - Via de' Macci - reasonable
    16. Food and Wine list of Florence restaurants

SORRENTO

    May 9 - May 11

  1. Place to Stay

    1. Casa Sorrentina - Sophia, Corso Italia 134, Sorrento, NA 80067, 39(081)8782738. Sonia Cosentino - 081 8782738 or 334 6228253. Napoli Train Station. We stayed here our first night in Sorrento because the Gilda was only available for 3 nights and we had a 4 night commitment to stay in Sorrento. a plate of Italian food
    2. Casa Gilda - Via Marina Grande n42 fisherman's village on the water. Torquato Tasso. Upstairs from Nonna's Bar, which was christened and had a grand opening on May 12, 2010. We were invited to attend and witness great trays of food coming continuously out of the kitchen. Tratoria da Emilia's was our favorite at the Marina Grande in Sorrento. picture of Gilda - dark pink three story apartment.

      Bruno Acampora
      www.villatorent.it
      IT Mob.Ph. +39 3392815129
      UK Land Ph.+44 2032867901
      USA Ph. +1 917 675 3420

  2. Places to Eat

    1. Trattoria Emilia since 1947 Mother and Daughter. We ate here three times and had beer once. They had the grand opening of Noona's Bar which we attended and ate a whole lot of hor dourves.

  3. Things to See

    1. Sorrento Information 16032010

  1. Returning to Austin

    1. from Sorrento to Naples Alilauro Hydrofoil - €11
    2. from Naples port (Moro Beverello pier - near Piazza Municip) to Naples Airport take the Alibus Bus €3 - buy tickets on the bus - no reservations.
    3. Naples (NAP) to Munich (Franz Josef Strauss Intl.) 05/12/10 12:10 PM - 1:50 PM Lufthansa 4051
    4. Munich (Franz Josef Strauss Intl.) to Chicago (ORD) 05/12/10 3:40 PM - 6:20 PM Lufthansa 434
    5. Chicago (ORD) to Austin (AUS) 05/12/10 8:05 PM - 10:52 PM Lufthansa 5596