kovsie

Janis, thanks for taking the time to post - I am also following along (especially the LONDON part!)

cobbie2

We, too, like S Ken and the Millenium Gloucester. In May we wanted a different 'hood and stayed at the then brand new Hampton by Hilton at Waterloo. Great hotel and location.

nola77382

I love the idea of just hopping off/on the vaporetto and wandering: makes for a perfect day in beautiful Venice... I hope to do that next time we're there.

janisj

Won't get to the last couple of days TR til probably tomorrow. I'm sitting in the Admirals Club at LAX waiting 4.5 hours for my flight home.

I flew down early this morning for my 11:15 Global Entry interview. I went in at 11:12 and was on my way at 11:16 . . . Two flights and hours on the ground . . . For essentially a bleedin' ONE MINUTE appointment!!!

It was either $100 to change my flight, or $50 for a day pass to,the lounge . . .

Kristina

Janis- Loving your report. I have Global Entry. Worth every penny! But then again, I didn't have to fly anywhere for the interview.

simpsonc510

Agree, global entry is so worth it! We were fortunate in that DH and I could schedule our interviews on a day we were flying to Europe from Ohare (a 3 hour drive from our home). Worked out great, plus GE was ready for us on our return from Europe a couple of weeks later!

Loving your Venice report! I'm going to check out your hotel. DH and I will be in Venice next August, part of a 50th anniversary Europe trip! I was in Venice in August of 2014 for a few days (DH has never been) and I stayed at Locando Orseolo, also within a stones throw of St Marks, but VERY quiet location, AND a water door. We did the water TAXI both arriving and departing. Best way to go!!

The reason I want to check out your hotel choice is because Orseolo did not have an elevator, and we had to hike up 3 sets of stairs. Luckily the staff always helped out by carrying our bags when we checked in and checked out.

Looking forward to the rest of your report.

Carol

Anyway, maybe your hotel will be a better choice for DH and me. Location will be the key. Orseolo was so very well located, as well as being so quiet, it will be pretty hard to beat.

sarge56

I had 5 days in Venice this spring and did pretty much the whole "lazing around, vaporetto-hopping, see-what-you-see" kind of stay. One of my best in Venice!

Looking forward to the remainder of your TR. Pics? (Grazie!)

janisj

OK - back to work (I've had a busy morning - booking three short get aways in Nov/early Dec to Chicago for shopping/museums, Disneyland for my b'day, and Las Vegas for trouble)

<B> Friday Oct 3 - Walks of Italy, Gondola, Vivaldi/Pachelbel concert, and proposals and weddings everywhere!</B>

After breakfast and booking a water taxi for tomorrow's trip to the airport, I headed out first to try and find the supermarket the woman on the desk thought might carry insect repellant. I asked and she agreed they'd' spray the room but wasn't very happy about it (like I said all the staff was great except this one) I <i>suspect</i> she messed up my water taxi booking semi-on purpose. But more on that later - worked out OK.

I didn't find the market but did come across a hardware store - the guy at the register and I did a sort of pantomime - he spoke a teensy bit of English and me . . . well, grazie is about the extent of my Italian. Not quite that bad, but words like mosquito/bug/insect repellant challenged both of us. He was sure they didn't have anything like that but a lady in the back came running and said they did and the two of them rummaged around for a bit and found their last can of a (from what I could make out on the label) herbal/natural insect spray.

Of course I couldn't read the warnings and all (which is likely a good thing) but that night there were a couple of mosquito so I sprayed like hell -- me, my pillow, the bedding and in the air in the bathroom . . . and slept like a baby. So it didn't kill me and must have at least deterred the little buggers.

My walking tour 'VIP Access Secret Passages: Doge’s Palace & St. Mark’s Basilica' was at 12:30. It was really terrific - only 11 people and a wonderful guide named Mosé. He was a forty-somthing, sort of louche, slightly unkempt (in a sexy, not disreputable way ) which really knew his stuff. A native of Venice and an art history graduate. This tour doesn't go into the Doge's apartment but more into all the ceremonial spaces, the prison, courtrooms, across the bridge of sighs and up into an armory museum in the attics. Then after a short break he took us into the Basilica - all in all I think it was more than 3 hours.

I had some time to kill so got a gelato and window shopped some of the glass galleries and jewelry stores. Then through the window of this sort of gelato bar/cocktail bar/American bar (weird conglomeration) in the shadow of the Basilica I saw Pimm's on the back bar. I'd had lots of prosecco and wine but it REALLY was Pimm's weather so in I went. What I got was . . a jigger of Pimm's poured in a glass . So I taught/got him to add lemon soda and ice . . . and what started out as a €5.50 (just) Pimm's became a €9.50 Pimm's and lemonade

But it was refreshing and it was cold and I finished it walking along the Grand Canal . . . what's not to like?

Early on I had decided a gondola ride was silly -- first of all who wants to go on one solo, and they are expensive. But then I found a group ride for £25 through Venicelink. Figured it would be semi-lame but for only £25 I wouldn't be losing much more than half an hour of my time. Booked it for 5PM and it wasn't cheesy at all. There were 6 of us, two young couples and a nice middle aged man who the 'nose counter' (there were a total of 3 gondolas and 19 people) kept trying to put the two of us together. After both of us tried to the guy counter a couple of times I just turned to 'my companion' and "I guess we'll just have to be a couple of the next 30 minutes" and he said that was a fine idea

The entire ride was only 30 minutes but it was fun and long enough and scenic and a bargain.

While I was wandering yesterday I found the Secuola Grande di San Teodoro not far from Rialto -- apparently they do a regular rotation of Opera/Chamber music concerts. I booked for Friday's concert - mostly Vivaldi w/ some Pachelbel and Albinoni.

I had a couple of hours before I'd have to get dinner and then the 8:30 concert - so I went back to the hotel to start organizing my packing and charge my iPad mini (one of the quirks of the hotel is you us your room key to activate the lights/power . . . meaning if you aren't in the room you can't charge anything (Took me a day to figure that out) Charging things overnight is no prob, but the day before I had tried to charge my camera while I was out . . . duh (!)

Stopped at the front desk to pre-pay for the water taxi for tomorrow evening . . . and it was a VERY lucky thing I did. Seems sourpuss booked me for 5:30 AM when I needed 5:30 PM (and this was after we had talked about me checking out and the hotel storing my bag til I came back for the taxi . . . Like <i>that</i> would happen at 5:AM). The manager called and changed my booking to the correct time --

Headed out about 7:30 and had a serviceable pasta / wine in one of the touristy places w/ tables on the Grand Canal just up from the Rialto Bridge. It was fine -- better than expected actually, plus the view was terrific.

The concert was lovely -- the chamber group in 18th Century dress. Reminded me a bit of the concerts in Set Chapelle. Sort of touristy but excellent quality in a lovely venue. People were in everything from very posh evening dress to jeans.

Then I walked back to St Marks to listen to the dueling bands and had dessert

Over the last two days I'd seen 3 or 4 different wedding parties - most seemed to be either British or Americans. Late this evening in San Marco . . . not one but two proposals. Very festive w/ all the music and dancers all around and spontaneous applause. (I'd kill my fiancé if he proposed in a public place like that -- I think all these proposals shown on the jumbotron at football games are lame)

But these couples looked really happy so what do I know?

Back to the hotel to pack the misc. bits and toss all the extra 'stuff' - and sleep sans mosquitos

<B>Next. Architecture Biennale - Gardini and Arsenale, and my last day in Venice

annhig

Seems sourpuss booked me for 5:30 AM when I needed 5:30 PM (and this was after we had talked about me checking out and the hotel storing my bag til I came back for the taxi . . . Like that would happen at 5:AM).>>

lol, jj, better that way round than the other!

glad that the Venice portion of the trip worked out so well.

Kathie

Your stay in Venice sounds like a real pleasure!

janisj

<B> Architecture Biennale - Gardini and Arsenale, and my last day in Venice</B>

Will try to finish today (hopefully won't upset nochblad too awfully much )

Another good night's sleep sans mosquitos. Finished packing and checked out and the desk tagged my bag and set it aside, then I went up to breakfast. Another really beautiful day. I have until 5pm today to explore/shop or what ever before I have to get back to the hotel for the taxi to the airport. I had read about the Biennale Architettura and thought it would be a good 'three-fer' . . . Visit the exhibition, see the Gardini, and some of the Arsenale. I could have walked down to the Gardini but there was a vaparetto just about to leave so I took it down to Gardini and walked back.

What a terrific show! The main exhibition bldg covered sort of 'deconstructed' (mostly) domestic architecture. Historic applications and very modern designs. One room/exhibition space devoted to say 'Doors" and then the displays just went w/ it. Windows was one of my favorite areas, but every part of a bldg was represented. Interior Walls, Stairs - sounds boring but that was one of the most interesting and very interactive. Exterior Walls was fascinating -- some really interesting futuristic wall designs.In the personal plumbing exhibit there was a toilet from 100AD sitting next to a sci fi looking version from 2014 and a lot of other funny examples. Spent about an hour just in this one bldg and then went out into the Gardini and visited maybe 12 of the many international pavilions/bldgs. Like any Worlds Fair-type exhibition, some countries went all out and were thought provoking . . . and some were sorta meh.

I could have easily spent two days - no kidding. But after a couple of hours I walked along the Grand Canal to the Arsenale where the Italian Pavilion was. This one was enormous and had something for every one. It was a little less archetecture-focused and more a celebration of Italian arts -- architecture/mid century cinema/music/graphic arts.

http://www.labiennale.org/en/architecture/exhibition/

I eventually pulled myself away and headed back towards San Marco. Did a little last minute shopping then even though it was totally walkable, decided to take the vaporetto around to Rialto one last time just to get more photos and enjoy being on the water. Like most of my rides, I sat on the little, open back deck of the vaporetto where there are just 6 or 7 seats and it isn't like taking a crowded bus at all. Got off at Rialto and wandered around the Rialto Mercato area, Campo della Pescaria, San Giacometo etc. The huge/ancient clock on the exterior of the church of San Giacometo was fascinating. It has one hand/24 hours.

Stopped for a late lunch -- I know I had salmon and wine sitting on the side of a canal but I don't remember where <i>exactly</i>.

Back to the hotel, stuck the small purchases in my rollie bag, had a last glass of wine and waited for my water taxi. Right on time he arrived and we zoomed off to VCE. LOVED meandering through several small canals and then zooming across the open water. Most of the way I stood at the back and then moved to the front to talk to the driver - a young guy waiting to take the Gondolier test next month.

Did the same thing at VCE as at LGW - checked my cabin bag and went through to the gate area. Warning - Do not go to the gates until you absolutely must. There are several shops and places to eat . . . but they don't tell you that once you go through border control there is basically nothing. Just a snack bar and souvenir stand. You can't go back through.

Again a totally uneventful flight and we landed at LGW just before 10PM. Retrieved my bag and walked to the Premier Inn, checked in, watched some late night telly and slept like a baby.

My flight home from LHR isn't til 2PM so I'm not in a rush. I catch the airport coach and get to the Central bus station/T-3 (after hitting T-5 and T-4 first -- a full tour of <u>ALL</u> of Heathrow) in plenty of time. Have lunch in the Cafe Rouge . . . spend my last few £££ at Radley and board my flight to LAX (not business unfortunately). 3.5 hours on the ground at LAX and then the hour flight home. Booked a limo and the driver was waiting for me . . . Pulled in to my driveway at 10:45PM

For the 10 days after I got back, every day or two a new package arrived -- From F&M, (then F&M again because one item was broken. It took them only 2 days to get the replacement to me), Silver Vault merchants X 2, Buckingham Palace. Like Christmas over and over

annhig

jj, we once got off the vaporetto at Giardini on the way back from the islands, and we really enjoyed looking round one of the few areas of Venice where locals still live, shop, eat, etc. There was a nice deli, greengrocers, a gelateria, plus the little garden that gives the area its name of course.

do you know, I've never had anything shipped home from a holiday - looks as if I've missed a trick!

jane1144

Thanks...loved taking your trip with you!!

latedaytraveler

Hi JANISJ,

Great last day in Venice, eh? I really like a "last day" that doesn't end too soon. Great report.

Glad you arrived home safely then had the pleasure of receiving your purchases from London.

Dare I ask- where to next?

janisj

thanks everybody (and apologies to nochblad . . snarky font off )

latedaytraveler: Heh heh . . . I went truly insane Friday and booked THREE 2 night trips in Nov and Dec . . . but my next 'real' trip will probably be in late Mar or late April, to London + a couple of days in Amsterdam.

After that . . . I'm aching to get back to Scotland sometime soon-ish. All of Dickie_Gr's talk about Mull . . . Hopefully sometime next summer.

I keep <i>trying</i> to plan a trip to Hong Kong and Japan . . . but I always seem to get on eastbound planes -- must head west eventually.

Then Cornwall and Devon/Dorset are calling to me . . .

annhig: Since I started traveling w/ only carry-on sized luggage probably 15+ years ago I've just found it so much easier to let the merchants take care of shipping/insurance plus I don't have to deal w/ VAT and stuff.

sarge56: I have tons of photos but none on-line. I guess I really need to sit down and pick a site and upload some.

historytraveler

Well done. Great trip and like wise with TR.

You mentioned Cornwall &Devon as a future trip. Maybe I'll finally finish my 5 day Rabbies tour of Devon and Cornwall trip report. Maybe

thursdaysd

Great that you had such a good trip!

If you want a photo site I can recommend smugmug, although it isn't free.

Thanks for the tip on the Bienniale architecture exhibition. I get to Venice Nov 11 so it will still be on, and I'm staying out even beyond Giardini so it will be convenient. For some reason I thought the Biennale was all about modern art, and I no longer try to appreciate anything after the surrealists...

latedaytraveler

Hi HISTORYTRAVELER,

"You mentioned Cornwall &Devon as a future trip. Maybe I'll finally finish my 5 day Rabbies tour of Devon and Cornwall trip report."

Please do. I was seriously considering that junket a few years back. I would be particularly interested in how the hotel options on Rabbies worked out for you.

tarquin

Thursdayd, the Biennale is art in odd years and architecture in even ones.

PatrickLondon

"For the 10 days after I got back, every day or two a new package arrived -- From F&M, (then F&M again because one item was broken. It took them only 2 days to get the replacement to me), Silver Vault merchants X 2, Buckingham Palace."

I bet that gives the postmen something to gossip about.