Cicchetti and Venice on foot!

This beautiful reflection is my blip for our first day in Venice. It is a little side canal in the Cannaregio region of Venice which is a residential and therefore quieter area of the city.

After a pleasant afternoon orienting ourselves in the location around our hotel we crossed the Grand canal to Cannaregio to meet our guide for an evening walking eating and drinking tour of Venice through the bars and taverns used by the Venetians themselves.

Shortly after this calm shot we recrossed the Grand Canal by Traghetto. Like a Gondola but bigger and one on which you stand shoulder to shoulder with other passengers. Not a calm experience at all! Very hairy.

We then headed to the Rialto Market area where there is a fish market each morning. Fresh fish bought every day is used to make fish dishes in a small bar adjacent to it. Here we tried our first Cicchetti- the Venetian equivalent to Tapas. Smoked swordfish and sundried tomato, smoked Tuna with creamed asparagus and horseradish as well as creamed Baccalaut. Not only superb food but local wine too. On this occasion a white Garda.

This was just the beginning. Around the corner we visited 4 more amazing bars where people generally stand to eat their Cicchetti and drink wine ( standing is cheaper in Venice.)

We had several more wines, red and white including a sparkling red, and more Cicchetti ranging from Tuna or Zucchini balls ( fried in crumb) to the more familiar Brushetta topped with various meat, fish and vegetable fillings.

What an introduction to this amazing city!

Typical Cicchetti bar

Yummy!