This morning we were up early for us, and it was a good thing because our landlady’s cleaner came to change our linens and clean the apartment.  We were out by 10:15 and caught the vaporetto to San Silvestro.  Usually we would go to the Rialto Market by getting off the vap at Rialto Mercato, but that stop is closed for a month.  The San Silvestro stop is one that we hadn’t used before and there is a wonderful, quiet campo at the Church to calm you down before the assault of people and noise at the Rialto.  Today was not too bad, no ships on the arrival schedule and the fish market is closed on Monday.  We were able to get right into Casa Parmigiano and buy gorgonzola, dried porcini, sun dried tomatoes, olives, and, of course, parmigiano.  Then we walked to our favorite vegetable stand and got scallions, onions, lemons, treviso (a special kind of radicchio) and little hot fresh red peppers.  A few stands away we found fresh thyme which is not always easy to find.  Then to the spice shop around the corner for great olive oil and a jar of mustard, and then our favorite butcher for two pork chops.  I think we have the Italian way of shopping figured out.  We also stopped at the TIM phone store but the people there were not very encouraging as we can barely, if at all, get a phone signal at the apartment.  They said the mifi wouldn’t work with lousy phone reception.  We may just he to live with this internet.

Across the Grand Canal from the vegetable section of the Rialto Market was this installation for the Biennale:

We came home, had porchetta sandwiches for lunch, and then played games on the computer, practiced violin, or read, depending on who you ask.  We went for a spritz (tried Select again–I think the woman at the first place gave me the wrong thing as this was totally different).  Home again and I cooked tonight, a dried porcini and gorgonzola risotto.  Yum!

Tomorrow it’s back to the TIM store as our Italian phone is now unable to make any calls at all.  Argh!