Rex

Gina, <BR> <BR>Yes, I agree that the meals were an extraordinary bargain, considering the location, the service and how much everyone was pleased. I said it was "a little high" because there might be others on this board, less familiar with Venice, that might not know the context of calling $17 per person a "steal". <BR> <BR>I thought being considerate with our own bottle of wine was an exceptional positive plus. <BR> <BR>Regrettably, I don't remember enough about the food - - I know there was one spaghetti carbonara (this one sticks in my mind, because my daughter that it was very good - - we make this a lot at home, and we're snobs enough to say that we like our own better, but it still rated a thumbs up from a 17 year old who likes to make it herself as well). I think 2 or 3 people even had some dessert. Because it was early in the evening, I'm guessing that my wife skipped coffee and desserts, because we probably had the goal of stopping for some later. <BR> <BR>Mostly I remember overall satisfaction levels were unanimously very high - - at the risk of putting down another place - - it was a marked contrast to our dinner the night before - - near Ponte Rialto at a place called Trattoria della Madonna. Maybe the inimitable Ms. Ciccione herself was in the kitchen - - if so, she should stick to singing (tongue planted firmly in cheek). <BR> <BR>So, bottom line is: yes, I think this place ranks worthy of remembering the name. <BR> <BR>And to Ofelia - - there are no two day passes - 1 day at 18.000 LIT or or three day for 35.000 LIT, single ride at 6.000 LIT; I am curious what residents pay for an annual pass. I can't believe that is even 6.000 per day (x 365). Who is subsidizing whom, if there are riders who don't pay? <BR> <BR>I am also skeptical that overstaying a parking meter is not an act of intent. There are plenty of cities that seem to collect a lot of parking meter fines - -I wonder if this isn't planned for in their budgeting process, and calculated into the process of setting the meter rates. <BR> <BR>Boy, this thread has meandered into a lot of curious directions! <BR> <BR>As for passes, that IS what I have so many of - - unvalidated, they are the equivalent of unpunched single ride tickets.

Phil

Ofelia: <BR>In addition to the mentioned pass prices, be aware that the direct boats from the airport are not covered by the passes. They are run by a different company and the fare is 17'000 lire one way. <BR> <BR>The passes, however are valid on bus line number 5 leaving the airport every 30 minutes and connecting to the urban vaporetto network at Piazzale Roma. <BR> <BR>Rex: <BR>For your information: Monthly passes for the navigation network are 45'000 lire to residents, passes for navigation and bus networks are 52'000 lire a month (adding up to 540'000 lire ($262), and 624'000 lire ($303) a year respectively). There are discounts for students and people living on the lagoon islands. <BR> <BR>Yours sincerely <BR> <BR>Phil.

chris

Hey! How bout we steal David? If we get caught, we can tell them Rex's views on theft.