Planes and Boats and Trains

Last night we did eventually get to the Venice Jazz Club. We left after our final dinner on the boat – another delicious meal – then caught a vaporetta into Venice. As is customary here, it took us over half an hour to find our destination. Venice is not easily travelled ! But we found it and enjoyed two jazz groups, with the first one – an American group from a visiting cruise ship – recording a CD of their performance there. The second group was a local group that included the owner of the bar, and was very good. We then caught a vaporetta as far as we could ( they don’t travel to Centosa after 9.00pm) and then called a water taxi for the final leg, getting home just after midnight.

Next morning was like the end of the Fellowship of the Ring ; we all went our separate ways after two fun filled weeks (still bearing in mind some frustrations from the rowing). Mike and Pina, Peter and Tamarra and Nancy caught a water taxi direct to the airport for flights to Dublin, Paris and Dubai ; Bev, Nola, Michelle and Darlene were staying on in Venice for another night ; and Carmel and I took off for our trip to Vienna. That involved a vaporetta ride to the station, taking in the sights of Venice from the water for one last 40 minute ride ; then a train trip from Venice station to Mestre station on the mainland ; then a ninety minute wait for our trip to Villach over the Austrian border – which tuned out to then be a coach trip of over three hours, not the train trip we were expecting ; then a transfer to the train from Villach to Vienna for another four hours; then a taxi trip to our hotel after it took ages to actually find a taxi. Our hotel room is huge – bigger than our rooms in Chivasso and on the Vita Pugna put together, with a big walk in robe area, a separate bathroom bigger than what we have at home, and a large living area + bed. It is a nice change after the cramped quarters of the last week. We walked 500m for some al fresco dining on a balmy evening, and will explore Vienna tomorrow.