The Vap Map

Deciding which vaporetto to take can be confusing. A friend of mine, Nan McElroy, an American writer living in Venice, has put together the Vap Map. You can download it for $1.50 US.

Nan's a lot of fun. It's a tradition of mine to do a very long lunch with her at La Cantina, a fantastic wine bar (Nan's friends with the owners). Gael Greene said this about La Cantina:

Our budget-minded Venetian pals often stake out a table in the back room at La Cantina, where Francesco slices cured salamis, raw fish, cheeses—everything to order, even the bread. Platters are priced by weight. Francesco's creative crostini are full of surprises—tongue piled high under fresh horseradish shavings, salted beef with smoked ricotta and chopped pickle. But we pay the price for his fame and obsessiveness with waits that seem endless. [I don't think the waits are endless--but then Gael probably didn't bring Francesco's favorite bourbon from the US.] Francesco can be temperamental, and when he's in a really bad mood, the place is closed. On a recent visit, he was sipping red wine and singing along to Sinatra. The pilgrims simply drink, laugh, and patiently wait. Campo San Felice, Cannaregio 3689; 39-041/522-8258; dinner for two $24.

When Nan's around we get a really great meal!

Check out her blog, Living Venice.