So a quick shuttle trip to the airport, get my boarding pass (luggage was checked to Rome from Sydney) a few hours in the lounge and (yawn) another bus ride out to the plane. It's four hours into the flight and we are currently over Novosibirsk - hmm hoping we aren't going into Ukraine airspace. Very displeased to hear some unconfirmed antisemitism there requiring Jews to register although subsequently dismissed.
Onto the third episode of Game of Thrones S2 this flight hoping to get through 2 and 3 during this trip. Also watched an interesting part 1 of 5 of a BBC series The Story of the Jews - pretty interesting and I loved the reference to Freud as a G-dless Jew.
I arrive in Rome about 19:00 - of course the first flight in many years to be 45 minutes early whereas I would have preferred it 45 minutes late as the plane much more comfortable that Rome Termini Station - and get a direct train to Termini where I get the 22:35 train to Venice. My real potential problem is no hotel room available at 05:20 when I arrive - oh well early coffee in Piazza San Marco would be second prize I guess!
I will be spending the day in Venice with no real plans. I'm guessing I will be tired but will walk around for a few hours I'm sure. Need to resist sleep until the evening - Oops just realised while writing this that it will be Good Friday that day in Venice so guessing most things will be shut - anyway probably overthinking it all.
I have arranged two data connections for my trip, one prepaid and one pay as you go - yes I am connectivity addicted I admit it. While these will only work in port but with the two cruises stopping 10 times in 12 days shouldn't be a problem keeping in touch. With internet onboard costing upwards of $0.55 a minute I needed some much better priced resources (let me know if you need details as I did a lot of research on this one).
All went amazingly smoothly. Checked in big bag for two hours at Termini to allow me to walk the nearby streets and clear my head and exercise my legs. Light meal and onto the train to Venice. There were four beds to each "cabin" and my new best friends kindly allowed me to swap an upper for a lower allowing me to avoid the upward climb. I managed three hours sleep in a bed (pillow provided) made from what is normally a very flat three train seats which was quite comfortable albeit a touch narrow for my large frame.
Arrived at Mestre station stairs down and then up to reach the street. Not sure if I was pleased or not that a kind young gentleman offered to help me with my bag - yeah pleased - also on the basis that it is rare to see manners like that in today's fast moving world.
Waited 10 minutes for a cab in a cold and almost empty street and reached my 4 kilometre away hotel where I had the anticipated discussion about whether a 06:00 checkin would result in one night charge or two.
Still unresolved. Washed clothes, showered and changed and I FEEL GREAT. Not planning to sleep and will soon head for a bus into Venice proper, craving breakfast in Piazza San Marco just for some memories with Linda 31 years ago.
55 hours after I left Sydney and here I am on the other side of the world ready for what I will hope will be a fun cruise with many new places and experiences.
An unpack and shower and I head on the public bus (yes public bus) for the thirty minute drive to Venice proper. Bue €1.30 vs Taxi €30+ was a compelling argument for the bus. Well that in addition to very specific instructions provided by the hotel. I arrive at Piazale Roma and start walking until I realise it is an hour from Piazza San Marco. I buy a day pass for the 14 stops and get off to one of the most beautiful places I have been. I recall vividly that last time I was here Linda and I couldn't resist a coffee at Florians and as I walked past at 09:30 the three piece band were in full swing wearing their dinner suits.
I wasn't really in the mood for galleries and churches, especially when I saw the long queues. There was an exhibition of Legere that I may normally been interested in but not today.
I should have learned by now not to dine at restaurant near major attractions - expensive and typically not great food - same here - oh well! I spent six hours walking the backstreets and laneways and crossing the canal bridges. Not much in the way of shopping interest for me as most of the shops were either touristy or world brands - think Occitaine, Benetton and Zara etc.. Venice must be a place that people buy watches because every major watch brand had a shop in Venice - Choppard (many) Patek, Audmars etc.. Now I love crystal and glass and Murano glass is also interesting but with sooooo much here at every second
shop windows it is easy to tire of and very quickly.
I have felt very good and awake until around 15:00 when I head back to the bus terminal and the hotel. On the way I buy some smoked salmon, bresaola and biscuits which becomes my dinner. I duly fall asleep at 17:00 and wake up at 21:00 for the aforementioned dinner.
With limited internet on the ship I wont post much in the way of pics until the end but will recount my happenings.
Well nothing much else for now. Hope all are well.
XD
Onto the third episode of Game of Thrones S2 this flight hoping to get through 2 and 3 during this trip. Also watched an interesting part 1 of 5 of a BBC series The Story of the Jews - pretty interesting and I loved the reference to Freud as a G-dless Jew.
I arrive in Rome about 19:00 - of course the first flight in many years to be 45 minutes early whereas I would have preferred it 45 minutes late as the plane much more comfortable that Rome Termini Station - and get a direct train to Termini where I get the 22:35 train to Venice. My real potential problem is no hotel room available at 05:20 when I arrive - oh well early coffee in Piazza San Marco would be second prize I guess!
I will be spending the day in Venice with no real plans. I'm guessing I will be tired but will walk around for a few hours I'm sure. Need to resist sleep until the evening - Oops just realised while writing this that it will be Good Friday that day in Venice so guessing most things will be shut - anyway probably overthinking it all.
I have arranged two data connections for my trip, one prepaid and one pay as you go - yes I am connectivity addicted I admit it. While these will only work in port but with the two cruises stopping 10 times in 12 days shouldn't be a problem keeping in touch. With internet onboard costing upwards of $0.55 a minute I needed some much better priced resources (let me know if you need details as I did a lot of research on this one).
All went amazingly smoothly. Checked in big bag for two hours at Termini to allow me to walk the nearby streets and clear my head and exercise my legs. Light meal and onto the train to Venice. There were four beds to each "cabin" and my new best friends kindly allowed me to swap an upper for a lower allowing me to avoid the upward climb. I managed three hours sleep in a bed (pillow provided) made from what is normally a very flat three train seats which was quite comfortable albeit a touch narrow for my large frame.
Arrived at Mestre station stairs down and then up to reach the street. Not sure if I was pleased or not that a kind young gentleman offered to help me with my bag - yeah pleased - also on the basis that it is rare to see manners like that in today's fast moving world.
Waited 10 minutes for a cab in a cold and almost empty street and reached my 4 kilometre away hotel where I had the anticipated discussion about whether a 06:00 checkin would result in one night charge or two.
Still unresolved. Washed clothes, showered and changed and I FEEL GREAT. Not planning to sleep and will soon head for a bus into Venice proper, craving breakfast in Piazza San Marco just for some memories with Linda 31 years ago.
55 hours after I left Sydney and here I am on the other side of the world ready for what I will hope will be a fun cruise with many new places and experiences.
An unpack and shower and I head on the public bus (yes public bus) for the thirty minute drive to Venice proper. Bue €1.30 vs Taxi €30+ was a compelling argument for the bus. Well that in addition to very specific instructions provided by the hotel. I arrive at Piazale Roma and start walking until I realise it is an hour from Piazza San Marco. I buy a day pass for the 14 stops and get off to one of the most beautiful places I have been. I recall vividly that last time I was here Linda and I couldn't resist a coffee at Florians and as I walked past at 09:30 the three piece band were in full swing wearing their dinner suits.
I wasn't really in the mood for galleries and churches, especially when I saw the long queues. There was an exhibition of Legere that I may normally been interested in but not today.
I should have learned by now not to dine at restaurant near major attractions - expensive and typically not great food - same here - oh well! I spent six hours walking the backstreets and laneways and crossing the canal bridges. Not much in the way of shopping interest for me as most of the shops were either touristy or world brands - think Occitaine, Benetton and Zara etc.. Venice must be a place that people buy watches because every major watch brand had a shop in Venice - Choppard (many) Patek, Audmars etc.. Now I love crystal and glass and Murano glass is also interesting but with sooooo much here at every second
shop windows it is easy to tire of and very quickly.
I have felt very good and awake until around 15:00 when I head back to the bus terminal and the hotel. On the way I buy some smoked salmon, bresaola and biscuits which becomes my dinner. I duly fall asleep at 17:00 and wake up at 21:00 for the aforementioned dinner.
With limited internet on the ship I wont post much in the way of pics until the end but will recount my happenings.
Well nothing much else for now. Hope all are well.
XD
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