OMG! The odyessey has begun! I flew from Atlanta to Yorktown (thanks for the ride to the airport, Marcia!), overnighted there and then flew with my sister, Cindy, to JFK (5 hour layover) then to Paris (3 hour layover) then to Venice. A long walk to the water taxi and then an hour boat ride to the island of Venice. Mom and Brenda were at the hotel (stunning, new money, marble, high-falutin') when we got there. Brenda and Cindy went on the walking tour of Venice, I began to collapse. By the next morning, we all felt much better and started in on Venice.
What a gorgeous city! Quaint old houses with overflowing flowerboxes clingling to wrought iron balconies - and a Dolce and Gabanna store housed on the first level. What shopping -- every big brand name you can think of is here. Cindy bought some stunning red leather gloves at a very foo-foo store and then completed her ensemble by buying a "real" red leather Prada bag from the display set up on the steps of one of the bridges! Too much fun! The city is very easy to walk - lots of signs. We walked to St. Marks Square, fed the pigeons and ate gelato (yum!). Then we walked to the Rialto Bridge and back to the square. The morning was over too soon.
The bag drag and slog to the ship began at 230pm. We finally were in our cabins at 5:30pm. We have lovely balcony cabins and had the cabin steward unlock the balcony partition.....so we have one huge balcony adjoining both our cabins.
Cruise ships in Europe are not quite like US cruise ships --- this one has so so many people and all the announcements and introductions are made in five languages - Italian, English, Spanish, French and German. The food is OK so far - I had Sea Bass for dinner. Cindy had Prime Rib, Mom had Smoked Salmon with Salmon Roe and Quail. (Not Waffle House at all!) The ship seems somehow noiser and livlier than I am used to. The dancing was no Frank Sinatra, but great Italian polka tarantala type music had them all out on the floor. This week will make for great people watching, that's for sure! The evening's entertainment in the grand salon was horrible --- an acrobatic magic act that would not have made it to the Motel 5 in Las Vegas. I suppose it's hard to cater to such a diverse crowd. What's funny for some, just isn't funny to others, I suppose.
Today is Bari, Italy - Cindy and Brenda are going ashore. I'm going to check out the card room at 3pm and then there's bingo tonight (some things are the same on every ship!)
My hearfelt thoughts go out to Sheryl and Carolyn! I'm thinking good thoughts for both of you!
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