But what I do know is that you will try everything. We also knew that you've been trying to put this trip together and were hoping that it had actually come together by this time.

I am not sure what vaporware is, but if you are peddling some computer program aimed at the transportation industry, wouldn't you have a better chance of success in Venice, home of the vaporetto?

Vaporware is software that does not exist — not yet, anyway...

Does that mean that the vaporetto is transportation that does not exist?

1. Wrong. Me and Dr. O2K have spent many glorious moments dancing in the Piazza San Marco late at night. The tourists and pigeons have fled and we are by ourselves in this glorious square dancing to the whichever strings are playing from Quadri or Florian. Better yet, is after we have dined at Harry's. There are so many times we have entered Harry's during a downpour and exited when the sky was clear. Then, we have the glistening Piazza to ourselves. Can you spell R-O-M-A-N-C-E?
This is the best dance-venue in town and it is Free!!

Three points:

1. I thought Punki was referring to ballroom dancing, not square dancing.

2. Since when is a piazza a street?

3. Given their prices, don't the bars in San Marco's consider tourists and pigeons to be the same thing?

Ah that is wonderful to hear, obskure2k. Woo Hoo, spontaneously dancing in the street, is one of our favorite occupations. :D

If there is music and a 3'x3' open space, we will dance.

Will get a boombox if necessary. Have you guys seen/done the random all-ages tango dancers on the Seine with a victrola?

Sorry it was 11pm and my cheap-cheap digital camera died at the scene.

^ ^ ^

Yes, it would be kind of boring to fly 6,000+ miles from the West Coast to lovely Venice only to eat... diet food.

When in Rome, I mean Venice,....

:D

Monitor is disappointing me.

After Punki wrote that "I don't like anything that is even a little bit sweet, except fruit and wine," I fully expected him to educate her about the pleasures of very dry wines, but he failed me.

Instead, he wrote to Cholula discussing "your outing with the Dovster."

I was stunned by this! I had to what he was referring. I couldn't see any basis for my being outed and was unaware that Cholula had one.

It was only later that I realized that he had in mind Cholula's remark that "in Italy, I'm no more than a babe-in-arms."

Cholula, I have no idea of what experiences you may be intending for this Venice trip, and you certainly have the right to make any decisions you want, but there is no way you are going to wind up being the babe in my arms!

After having met Punki earlier this year, the one thing that I do know is that she always knows exactly what she wants and how she will go about getting it. She likes her wine and when the day comes that she wants to taste and was not familiar with the choices, you can bet that she would inquire extensively of anybody who she thought knew something about it.
Also, altho it is probable that her deepest familiarity with wines is West Coast heavy, in her case a preliminary education about wines of the Veneto is strictly not necessary because you can be fairly sure that she already knows at the very least the basics.
Just a note that we hope that orseo's friend from Verona comes down with some of the Amarones and Reciotos (note the plural) that we never see in the States.

eccomi
 

Here Iam I hope in the right place, Hi everyone My name is Giuseppe Im Italian.. and I will be in Venice with you guys.
I wrote that I will bring the wine and a little surprise lets see Venice is full of surprise Im looking to meet all of you in November.
If someone is that crazy to visit me in Cleveland please you are my guest, but it is better in my house in New York City.
Ciao a tutti !
Giuseppe

Giuseppe, you are indeed in the right place and very welcome here!

For those of you who are not reading the Delta Forum thread about the Meet, Giuseppe gave us a very happy surprise by posting there that he will be joining us in Venice -- and staying at the Ai Mori.

I first had an Amarone in Ireland of all places. But I liked it so much I went to the local fine wine shop in Long Beach, CA and found plenty of different Amarones. You can definitely get them in the states if you visit a decent wine shop. Even decent Italian restaurants in CA have them. However I can't recall if I've had the pleasure of Reciotos. Something to look forward to.

Of course you can get many of the Amarones here, but whenever you go to Europe, you will see labels that you have never seen in the States.

I will allow you connoissseurs to debate the merits of various vintages and labels as long as you keep in mind that any vino which comes from the Garda-Verona area is, by definition, the nectar of the Gods.

Although Frogophiles go ga-ga over inferior concoctions such as Mouton Lafitte Rothschild and Hermitage La Chapelle, I learned long ago that truly good wine can be summed up in three words: Valpolicella, Bardolino, and Soave.

In 1965-66, before the U.S. Army decided that I would somehow find a tour of duty in Vietnam more fullfilling, I was stationed in Verona. After a long, miserable, day of having sergeants question the legitimacy of my parents' union, I would get off of the caserma and sit near the Arena enjoying one of those three.

I guarantee you that given those circumstances, no wine in the world could possibly have tasted better.

In fact, during our Nov 23 tour of Verona, I shall leave the rest of you to stare at Juliet's balcony and the Piazza d'Erbe while I renew my acquaintance with these three old friends.

Afterwards, I might even walk past the Villa Bolla and genuflect.