Trip Notes #
6: Italy
May
10, 2018
After a wonderful breakfast and with our
car loaded with luggage, again we found a GPS issue. One GPS wanted us to take the
coastal road to Venice while the other device kept insisting that we take the
Auto-strata (freeway). Decisions made, we took the picturesque coastal road for
about 30 minutes but finally acquiesced when both GPS devices
"demanded" that we take the freeway.
We were "bopping along" about 70 MPH until the freeway traffic came to an abrupt stop. The freeway was
being expanded and, with all of the vehicles not going anywhere, we decided to
use the GPS map to get off the freeway and take paralleling country roads that
would position us onto the other side of the traffic snarl.
As clever as we were, the country
roads took us farther and farther away from the freeway. Although we were not
lost, it was clear that it would have been better remaining on the freeway with
the idea that the traffic would eventually clear up. A stranger did help us to
get back on the freeway and we ended up on the other side of the mess and off
we went to the Venice airport where we would return the car. The entire traffic
jam and getting lost on the country roads added two hours of driving time. Oh
well...
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After returning the car, a 45 minute
"Water Bus" took us into the Venice canal system where we would be
dropped off at one of the many canal docks.
By a lucky fluke, the dock was
steps away from our hotel and a two minute walk to the hotel where Artie and Lynn, our cruise
friends, would be staying.
Location. Location. Location. We have been very fortunate with the
hotel choices. All of the hotels offered spectacular views, a great
breakfast, fantastic ambiance or something unique to remember.
The Venice hotel
was no different. Our bedroom looked down upon one of the main canals used by
the gondolas.
Would you like to guess how many "O solo mios" we heard sung by the gondoliers over a two day period?
Our hotel was perfectly located. Picturesque canals, and foot bridges were everywhere and the main canal was also by our hotel.
Like many old European cities, there is:
The Old
And the new
As a side note, Jerry went to Venice
High School (Los Angeles City School System). The school nick name was
"The Gondoliers" and the school motto was, "Rowing, Not
Drifting."
We had a lovely dinner at our
friend's hotel - The Gritti Palace. Jerry celebrated his birthday that evening.
Our plans for the next day was for walking the canals, spending
time at the Peggy Guggenheim museum and art galleries.
Our Friends: Art and Lynn
We also visited an
ancient string instrument museum.
Two Sets Of Strings
Unique Designs
An Instrument Workshop
The evening culminated with a wonderful
Vivaldi and Mozart concert at a nearby church.
Fantastic Concert!
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A quick
ride on a water taxi took us to the ship: The Seabourn Ovation.
Although we
have been on other cruises, this trip is special. This is the inaugural cruise
which promises to be rather special.
Arriving To Ship
Checking
in prior to boarding the ship was a classy experience.
Framed for posterity
Seabourn has a great "PR" system.
We were greeted as we boarded with a "Welcome, Mr. and Mrs.
Rosenstein!" or "Thank you for sharing this experience with us!"
How did they know who we are? The answer? The ship has a very clever system.
Upon check-in, our picture was taken and put onto an ID card. That picture was
quickly transmitted to the boarding area where the greeters could match a face
with a name. Nice touch!
Besides
the canals and beautiful buildings, Venice is also known for its masked balls
and its annual carnival. Our ship left the dock in a most dramatic way. As part
of a carnival theme, passengers wore
masks, the ship's entertainers and an Australian opera singer (flown in for the
event) along with the Seabourn Singers sang well known songs. Champagne flowed freely.
Arlene and Lynn Share The Departure Excitement
A brand
new, sleek and modern ship moving past canals and St. Mark's square - music and
singing projecting out over the water from the sound system -- was probably
unlike any other Venice departure in recent times. Everyone onshore was gawking as well as waving to us.
We must
have presented quite a dramatic spectacle to the onlookers on shore. This was
quite an experience.
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