Just completed reservations today for our quick trip to Venice in December. maryk, so far I think you are the only one whose dates match ours. Hope we can GTG. Anyone else?

We will be staying near Campo San Barnaba in Dorsoduro but we are only a vaporetto ride away from everywhere.

Joan
Title updated as requested by Joan.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Doru,

Hi Joan,

Would love to catch up. We'll be heading off to Florence for a few days on the 16th - back late on the 20th Dec - so any of the days before that.

We're staying really close to you - Rio San Trovaso.

Let me know what suits you best.

Anyone else?

Ciao, Joan. We are arriving in Venice Saturday late afternoon, December 15th. It will be great to meet up with you in Venice.

We are staying across from the Scala del Bovolo this time, renting from VeniceRentals.

Mary, we'll get together when you get back from Florence.

Super! This means two GTG's. We can see if others join in and schedule more definitely in a few weeks.

Mary, looking forward to meeting you. And Jing, great to intersect with you in Venice.

Ciao, Joan

Joan, looking forward to it.

We leave SF Nov 17th for Paris for Thanksgiving week, then Switzerland for three weeks and then Venice.

We do have an italian cell: 334 243 8394.

Hi Joan! I am so sorry that I'll miss you this year - I leave on December 9 so it sounds like we will pass each other at the airport.

(Last year, Joan and I had an unplanned GTG when we were sitting next to each other at La Zucca - it was so cool!).

Please give my best to your husband - hope you've had a great year. I still haven't attempted the pumpkin flan recipe but I did see some pumpkin/squash at the Farmer's Mkt. this morning that looked like they might be right for it. Have you tried it yet?

I was just thinking about the pumpkin flan from LaZucca when Fred brought in this year's pumpkin harvest yesterday. Some actually look very similar to the ones they displayed.

I sent you a PM about a possible alternate rendezvous.

Joan

Topping this. Since Mary and Jing (just travel) will be leaving from home well before the GTG's I figure we should begin to narrow this down.

So far, I see us being the lucky participants in 3 mini GTG's:

1) AnnieNC and I have realized we can squeeze in an "anniversary" dinner at La Zucca on her last night and our first in Venice: Saturday, December 8th.

2) We (Fred & I) can meet with Mary any time from December 9-15.

3) Jing arrives December 15 so 16, 17, or 18 is available for that GTG.

Anyone else care to join one or more of the above? Jing and Mary, chime in with your preferences for date and venue. I will PM you our cell phone number for use in Italy.

Joan

The 15th or 16th works for us - although the 15th would need to be after about 4pm as we'll be out at the airport before that waving goodbye to an Australian friend.

We're now off to Florence for 4 days on the 17th - back latish on the 20th.

No preference for venue!

Can we GTG on the 16th? We will be arriving on the 15th sometime in the afternoon from Brienz, Switzerland (Berner Oberland) by train. We will need to settle and stockup the pantry on the 15th.

We will activate our italian cell: 334 243 8394. We have the TIM from May but will need to add minutes, hopefully upon arrival.

Looking forward to meeting you all.

Terrific! It seems the 6 of us have a match for Sunday, December 16th. Let's see whether our numbers grow even more.

In the meantime, let's consider time and place. One possibility is to have a midday "Sunday family meal" with our Slow Travel family. I can think of several possibilities: Ai Cugnai (average family food, very friendly service), Locanda Montin (fairly "traditional" restaurant associated with an inn), or the Birraria place in Campo San Polo (lots of big family groups on Sunday noon BUT may have a December closing). I can provide lots more detail and locations. The last two are in Chow! Venice.

Or instead we could meet late afternoon for wine or a spritz. Your thoughts? This will be fun!

Joan, you tell us when & where and we will be there. We don't go out much except for capuccino, so I have no input as to where.

We leave for Paris November 17th for 6 nights, then to Brienz Switzerland and finally to Venice on December 15th. We will have WIFI in Paris but no internet connection in Brienz. We will try to get connected in Venice using our cell phone as a modem. Hope to get some pointers from Mary. So communication will be by phone once we leave Paris.

Looking forward to the GTG.

Birraria say on their website that they're open every day - and they were certainly open in December when we were there in 2005. Birraria website

I'm happy with either a lunch or meeting for an afternoon drink.

At this point our plan is for a midday (1 pm) meal at Ai Cugnai on Sunday, December 16th. Have sent a PM to maryk and just travel. If anyone else speaks up we can add to our group or add another GTG if a different day/time works for you.

Joan

Joan, just sent you an email. We look forward to lunch at Ai Cugnai and our time in Venice.

Just replied via private messaging - hope it worked as that's a first for me. See you there - looking forward to it.

Yes, I got both your offline messages. Let the countdown begin!

Joan

Mary, I received your email. Looking forward to our GTG in Venice.

We are packing for our flight to Paris tomorrow - the start of our winter holiday. We will see you at Ai Cugnai on Sunday, December 16th.

Packing is a bit of a chore - packing winter clothes (already a lot of snow in Switzerland) in a 22" suitcase each for nine weeks!!

This makes me feel a little lonesome with the rest of our GTG group soon to be in Europe. That's okay, I will hold down the fort and be Message Central.

We are housesitting near Seattle until after Thanksgiving. Happy & safe travels, all!

Joan

Hello everyone,
We are also going to be in Venice for the 16th and would like to join everyone for lunch.
Also, we have not yet booked a place and looking for suggestions. A small studio with a kitchenette anywhere in Venice would do. Thanks. Anglu and Lou Anne.

Lou Anne and Anglu,

We would be delighted to have you join us. This makes 8 for the reservation so far. The more the merrier!

Joan (cubbies)

Great! Look forward to meeting everyone. Is the restaurant on Colle Nuovo di Sant Agnese in Doroduro? Thank you, Lou Anne.

That address is near the restaurant but off by just a jog or two--another of Venice's little tricks. I sent you a Private Message with the details and my email address.

This GTG promises a great chance to meet new Slow Travelers--hooray!

Joan