I began my Silversea adventure with a couple of days in Venice.  Yes, the city of beautiful architecture, fabulous glass, and, of course, enchanting canals.  There's something about getting to where you're going by water taxi, that just cries out "romance" and "adventure."

But let me put all that aside for a minute to give you my recommendations for sleeping and eating.  After all, you're not going to enjoy your visit much if you're staying in a rat-trap hotel and consuming questionable food.

So first, the hotel: the Luna Hotel Baglioni.  Oh my, what an exquisite place.  Just off Piazza San Marco (St. Mark's Square) this hotel is the embodiment of old world charm.  A tad (note I said "tad") less expensive than the Danieli, and definitely less than the famed Cipriani, this hotel is worth the euros.

The arrival to the Luna:

Oops, we had a bit of a traffic jam there in the lower left photo!


And the lovely room:

(Naturally there are fabulous Murano glass chandeliers and sconces.)  And if I wanted to nitpick, I'd say that "yes, there are things that are a bit worn, could use a face lift here and there," but overall, it's lovely.

Unfortunately, I neglected to take pics of the bath, which was sumptuous: large, all marble, with separate tub and shower, and a double vanity.  And even better than the two sinks: good lighting!  

Besides the great digs, the staff is lovely: welcoming, gracious and attentive.  And as I write more about the trip, you'll find that I won't be nearly as complimentary about other hotel's staff.

Now, for the food!  After all, what's the point of going to Italy and not having great dining experiences?  And  there's only one Venice restaurant I'm going to mention in this post; and it's a triple threat, as in fabulous ambiance, charming wait staff and luscious food: the Ristorante Antico Pignolo.

Antico Pignolo is located just a short walk from the cathedral, down a little alleyway at Calle Specchieri, 451. With indoor dining rooms and a beautiful courtyard, there's space to suit everyone's taste.  And if you love to dine al fresco, well, let's just say that it doesn't get much better than this.  But the real star is the food: sumptuous sea food, perfectly cooked meats, pastas to dream about, and desserts...  Well, by the time you get to the delectable desserts your mouth is in sensory overload!

And one of the things I always look for when I'm in a restaurant - locals.  That's right, you don't want a touristy place, but one where the locals eat.  And to my delight, we were surrounded by Italians, all enjoying leisurely, multi-coursed dinners - all with big smiles!

Now, everything in Venice is expensive, there's just no getting around that.  And the food is no exception.  Dinner for two, with a bottle of wine, came to about $375.  I know, not exactly budget conscious - but when in Venice - indulge and enjoy.  At least, that's my motto!