Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Flying to Venice, Italy

In my post of November 5th "Our last trip - in extremis" I explained how we almost missed going on our last trip.  In early April 2012 I had booked a cruise, round-trip flights and accommodations for a vacation in October 2012.  In July, malignant tumors had been found in my husband's bladder and we thought we would not go on this trip.  However, 6 days before our departure date the urologist gave us clearance to go ahead.  It was not much time to prepare but we were happy, both because it meant my husband's health we getting better and because we had looked forward to traveling.  On 2nd October we went to the new International Terminal of the Atlanta airport.  It is very modern and has soaring glass windows.  That day is seemed almost deserted.  It took us just a couple of minutes to go through Security.
Our flight did not depart for Paris until 9:10 pm and we had come a couple of hours early, but we did not mind waiting.  The flight was not late in departing fortunately.

This flight was operated by Air France and not Delta.  It left at 9:10 pm and arrived in Paris earlier than the scheduled 11:35 am the following morning.  

I like to fly with Air France because they offer better meals and free beverages.  In addition they offer French and English newspapers and magazines.  They pass a printed menu for dinner.  Drinks before dinner are offered, like aperitif or Champagne, then wine or other soft drink during the meal.  After dinner liquors like Grand Marnier are also offered, free of charge.  Click on the collage below to read the menu better. This is my husband's menu (I decided on the duck.)
 I usually drink a glass of wine with my meals at home, but rarely drink before and after dinner drinks.  But if I do drink these when I travel it certainly relaxes me.  This was going to be a long trip as we had several hours of lay-over in Paris before boarding our flight for Venice.
It felt strange for me to land in Paris and not staying there.  For years, decades really, I had flown to Paris twice a year, sometimes 3 times to visit my mother - but she is gone now.  Our flight to Venice was short; we left Paris at 3:30 pm and arrived in Venice, Marco Polo Airport, at 5:10 pm. I had found out that there was a bus from the airport going to Piazzale Roma in Venice, for only 6 Euros per person, and taking only 20 minutes to get there.  It was easy finding the bus.
Once in Venice, we were not sure how to get to our Bed and Breakfast.  I had chosen it because it was close to the bus terminal and also the cruise terminal. Their brochure said that the 10 rooms in the hotel had been recently renovated and some looked out over romantic canal del Gaffaro. Luckily I remembered that I had downloaded a little map which showed how to walk from the Piazza to the hotel.  We had to go up and down 3 bridges and with the suitcases it was not that easy.  But once at the hotel we were given a room on the second floor - just one flight of stairs.
We had made it all by ourselves!  Now we had to open the window and look at the view.
Goodness, how pretty!  First I looked to the right- where we had come from the bus terminal - and walked across the little bridge,
then I looked to the left
and could not believe how lovely the view was.  This was Venice, for sure!  We emptied our suitcases then went out to walk around for a while.  It was getting dark and close to dinner time
 so we decided to try the little restaurant two doors from our hotel.  It was called "La Rosa dei Venti" which means the Compass Rose.  I had meant to re-study my Italian but had not since I thought the trip would be cancelled.  I hoped my Italian would come back to me - it did, but I did not have to use it often as most people in shops and restaurants spoke English.
We were pleased to see that there were many local Venetian patrons in the restaurant and not just tourists.  We decided on the special of the day, which was: a salad and spaghetti with cuttle fish and calamari for 12 Euros each.  I was surprised to see the black spaghetti but realized it was the "ink" from the cuttle fish (seppia.)  We had a glass of "Proseco" with the meal.  It was very good.
We finished the meal with a lemon tart, then it was a short walk back to our hotel.  The canal was now quite dark and it looked like the gondolier was hurrying his ride - at least it went too fast by me for a clear picture.

This was our first day in Venice, and we had four more to go - so much to see and experience! Tomorrow should be another warm day...
Scene a Venise, painted by Lucien Levy-Dhurmer, French 1865-1953

more posts to come on Venice...eventually.

62 comments:

  1. Bonjour Vagabonde. I am so happy your husband's health improved, and you got to go on this fabulous trip in the end! It was fun to follow you, step by step, from Atlanta to Venice. It looks like you went at the right time, and there weren't big crowds around. I can't wait to read the next "installment..." - Veronique (French Girl in Seattle)

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  2. I LOVE the way you took me on this trip with you---including the NEW Airport---which is BEAUTIFUL, by the way; why do you think it was so empty??
    And then the lovely Flight and the GREAT Menu..Yummmm! And then your Hotel Room and THE BEST---The View from both sides. It really made me feel that I was in Venice with you---And then, the lovely Restaurant...Oh My!
    I so look forward to more of Venice and the rest of this trip, too, my dear!

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  3. So glad you were able to take this trip and that your husband was doing well.

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  4. oh,my...what a wonderful post!! marvelous photos!! i felt like i took the trip with you!!!
    enjoyed this so much my friend!

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  5. You must be a pro at planning! Looking forward to your wonderful pictures and narration.

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  6. Isn't it wonderful there - all those years I waited to go, had my four days of utter enjoyment, and now I want to return, perhaps spend a month, because it was even lovelier than expected!

    Great pics looking forward to more.

    Hugs Mary

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  7. Is it so much more expensive to fly Air France? That sounds like old style flying....the way it should be instead of just loaded like cattle and shoved into seats. I would like to try that airline sometime. I am so ready to travel again, but it will not be for a while with a daughter's wedding in 2013, that haa to take priority, I suppose!

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  8. Chlost - In the US the flight prices on Air France are usually about the same as on Delta – sometimes AF has special deals. But they work with Delta, which means that if you buy a flight on Delta, you can decide to go on an Air France flight if one goes to your destination in Europe. For us, the flights were free. We had enough Frequent Flyer miles on Delta to get free tickets and decided to take the evening flight to Paris, which was operated by Air France. Thanks for the comment.

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  9. What a wonderful place to stay in Venice! A view like that, and what looks like perfect weather. I am enjoying this vicarious trip, VB! Thank you for making it so detailed, I would expect nothing else from you! :-)

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  10. What a trip! How nice! I am so sure you made the most of it. Looking forward for the next chapter...

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  11. Oh Vagabonde, I am so glad that you are telling us more about your wonderful trip. Other friends have also told me about the charms of Air France.

    I would also have loved the views from your B&B window, and the opportunity to have that first dinner in the midst of some true neighborhood folks.

    Now...I look forward to more posts about your holiday. xo

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  12. Vagabonde... You really do take some terrific photos! Thanks for taking me along on another of your journeys! Take Care, Big Daddy Dave

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  13. What a lovely post you were so lucky with your choice of hotel it looks amazing with those views. How lucky to find a restaurant too used by the locals that is also such a recommendation. Your pictures bought back happy memories of our time in Venice. Thank you.
    Sarah x

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  14. Merci de votre passage sur mon blog.
    Les photos de ce merveilleux voyage sont très "pro"-surtout celles faites en avion!
    Je n'ai jamais vu jusqu'ici, ni bien sûr goûté de spaghettis cuits dans l'encre!J'avoue que leur couleur ne me tente pas!

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  15. Marvellous, oh so marvellous, dear you!

    Ça fait plaisir d'entendre des nouvelles assez positives au sujet de ton mari. Voyagez voyagez voyagez, la vie est trop courte et nous bouscule trop souvent. Il n'est pas incorrect de partager ce genre de choses sur un blogue. Nous, tes lecteurs, nous apprécions.

    À propos d'Air France, tu as absolument raison. Ça s'appelle "la classe". Ils ont de la classe quoi. Et du vrai champagne… Leurs prix sont malheureusement un peu élevés et nous choisissons souvent d'autres transporteurs, ce qui permet au fond de rallonger la durée des voyages.

    À la prochaine !

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  16. Et j'oubliais, belles photos. La première est spectaculaire. Très difficiles, les photos par un hublot, et celle-là a du punch !

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  17. Roger Gauthier – Merci, Roger, un compliment sur ma photo venant de toi cela a de la valeur.

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  18. Thank you very much for visiting my site! Delta has certainly become a different airline. Your travels look great!

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  19. Bonjour charmante Vagabonde,
    J'aime lire "tes petits carnets de voyage", c'est toujours passionnant et instructif!
    Comme toi, lors de mon premier séjour à Venise, il y a quelques années de ça, j'ai eu quelques déceptions avec un tout petit hôtel... Depuis, je ne choisis plus que des hôtels reconnus!
    Et comme toi, j'aime beaucoup le travail de Levy-Dhurmer, j'ai choisi de partager et faire découvrir ses tableaux orientalistes (moins connus)!
    Bon j'espère sincèrement que tu prendras le temps de me prévenir lors de ta prochaine visite en France, ma fille est étudiante à la Sorbonne, j'aurai donc tout le plaisir de venir te rencontrer à Paris...
    Bisous et bonnes fêtes de fin d'année!

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  20. What a wonderful trip, Vagabonde. I'm so glad your husband was well enough to travel. Being used to crowded UK airports I'm trying to imagine a brand-new one so empty! Venice is one of my favourite cities, though I've only visited on day trips from elsewhere, so I'm looking forward to your other posts.

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  21. Thanks so much for sharing these photos. This is a place I would love to go to but suspect I never will. Meanwhile I can enjoy it through your eyes for which I say thank you. We are off to Casablanca for Christmas where we hope we may be a little warmer than in France!! Keep well Diane

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  22. Yes, I used to like flying on Air France, too. Sadly I have never been to Venice. It does look lovely. I look forward to your next posts.

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  23. I did enjoy your many photos and the narrative accompanying them. I was curious as to which program you used to arrange your photos? It reminds me of Microsoft's or Windows "Live Writer."

    To travel today is far different from the old days when I flew 5 times across the Pacific Ocean with stops for something to eat at Midway or Wake Island. In those days the planes were 3 engine Constellations or 4 engine Globemasters. Landing on either one of those islands was nail biting to say the least as the runway was at the very edge of the surf on both ends. Black, blue, green and brown were the colors under the plane coming in to land. I saw my first Gooney Birds on those islands.

    Enjoyed your post, hope you hubby is doing OK.

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  25. Merci Vagabonde! J' aime à promener avec vous en Venise. Vos photos sont très belles. Je crois que Venise est très intéressante aussi. Je vous souhaite une bonne journée demain.

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  26. What an incredible trip - wonderful photos. I'd love to visit Venice one day.

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  27. Your Venice trip sounds delightful. Enjoyed the photos and your account.

    The AF flight you described is how I wish all flying was once again. I would become much more enthusiastic about domestic flying if the experience was more pleasant.

    Has been 3 or 4 years since I've been in the Atlanta airport and don't recall it appeared as your photos, so guess it was still being constructed/rebuilt, or whatever. It really does look quite beautiful. Always was very crowded when I was there, but usually a few week before or after holidays.

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  28. This post was just plain delicious! I loved reading it. I loved the way you laid it all out. And, I loved the photos. I don't know if I will ever make it to Venice. If I do, I hope I find a place like the one you stayed in. It looked perfect!

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  29. It was very brave of you both to continue with your holiday and I'm sure it would have done you both a power of good
    Lovely to see Venice still looking good. I had two weeks there with a girl friend in the sixties then a week with MTL in the eighties.
    The frist time we had torrential rain and St Marks was awash.

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  31. Ooh....I love Venice and your trip looks wonderful. Can't wait to see more. I just wanted to thank you for your comment on my blog about my French doll Rose. it was really nice to hear from you. I'd love to see your doll sometime too. Have a great weekend.
    Patricia

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  32. Ah, all worked out! What a great trip you had. Loved your photos, especially those in Venice. I know the area where you stayed. It's truly lovely!! We've been to Venice each summer the past six years. Little known secret: across the Gulf of Venice is Lido de Jesolo. Jesolo is a pedestrian town with a beach lined with accommodations within all ranges; apartments, rooms, etc. in the town, all within easy walking distance. Rates are VERY reasonable. (Hint: Lots of Brits there.) AND one can easily take the local ferry into Venice, stop at other islands. You've got to see Burano in the a.m. when it wakes up. It's actually more charming than Venice, I think, in some ways.

    Didn't know that about the SA and will re-direct. People in need are people in need. Period!

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  33. Hello from Sicily. What an interesting blog you have and I loved this post.

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  34. Voilà qui donne envie de partir! A Venise!
    Merci pour ce beau voyage!

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  35. How lovely your trip was! I’m happy for you that you could make it with your husband. I think you were lucky because in November I heard the news about the flooding in Venice. The usually crowded Saint Mark’s Square was deserted with water everywhere, but Venice is so beautiful in your photos. The tenth image reminded me of a scene from “Crooner” by Kazuo Ishiguro, where an old crooner serenades from the gondola to his wife in a hotel room. Thanks for sharing.

    Yoko

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  36. will be following in your footsteps part of the way, heading back to Brussels tomorrow via Atl.
    the weather here in Southern USA is fabulous and that really in the only nice thing about this trip for me
    such is life
    enjoy Venice
    anni

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  37. Wonderful flight, wonderful hotel, wonderful meal and, best of all, a husband healthy enough to go - what more could one ask for?

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  38. Dear Vagabonde, I so like traveling with you! Almost always when I finish reading one of your postings, I sigh deeply because you have taken me out of myself and my life here in this lovely home in Missouri and you have transported me elsewhere and introduced me to sights and food and events that are new and exciting for me. Thank you. Peace.

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  39. ✽.¸¸.•*`❀✽.¸¸.•✽
    Bonjour Chère Vagabonde ! :o)

    Merci pour ce beau voyage à Venise !!!

    Quelle chance d'être allée dans la ville des amoureux !!
    Les célèbres gondoles naviguant sur le Grand Canal... c'est formidable !

    Vous avez 24° aujourd'hui! C'est appréciable :o) ! En Normandie l'été quand il fait 24° on est très contents ! :o)
    Mais ce n'est pas les hivers enneigés que l'on attend à cette période de Noël !

    Je te souhaite un BON DIMANCHE chère Vagabonde !!!

    BISES amicales de Thaïlande :o) !!!!!!!
    ✽.¸¸.•*`❀✽.¸¸.•✽

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  40. That meal looked good! (Don't know why you think you can't write!)

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  41. Venice is so beautiful and your pictures are really doing it justice. They reminded me of two movies :
    "Italian for beginners" and "bread and tulips". I hope your husband is doing well. I am sure this trip really lifted your spirits up, I know it lifted mine up and cannot wait to see the rest of your trip. Thank you so much for taking us along with you.

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  42. Oh hello Vagabonde, you are in Venice!! =)
    I start to believe it's a very very long time since I last flew.. ;D digital ordering of dinner - wow! time have changed.. or maybe it's only the French planes..

    I have been both in Paris, Nice and Venice.. long time ago.. but I travelled by train :)) I guess that would be difficult from the USA.. ;))

    Looking forward to see the rest of your journey! :)

    Lovely vacation to you! :)

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  43. I loved the photos--thank you. You can put me down for some of that "black spaghetti" which I thought looked like worms, but got pretty excited about when you mentioned cuttlefish, something which I've never even thought about eating. I don't where a person could even find it here in Oregon, USA.

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  44. You know we're all thrilled you were able to go on this trip after all, Vagabonde. I was in Venice several years ago but would love to go there one of these years with Astrid. It will seem so much different than from our overnight there on the cruise! You've just whetted my appetite!

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  45. i have never beeb to my father in laws homw land><><>me i won't go back unless it is to paris<><love you,,, the putz

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  46. Your hotel room with a view reminds me exactly of Lucy opening up the window in The Room With a View. Of course, that's Florence, not Venice. I've appreciated your photo journaling your trip, showing us what the airport and the plane ride was like. Thanks for the virtual tour! The last time I visited Venice was 14 years ago (my son was 9 yrs. old then)... good to relive memories looking at your beautiful pictures. Look forward to seeing your upcoming posts.

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  49. Le nouvel aérogare d'Atlanta est très beau.
    Dis moi AIR FRANCE soigne ses passagers aux petits oignons. J'ai cliqué sur le menu. le Hic est qu'après je n'ai pas pu retrouvé la traduc en français.
    Bel hôtel à Venise.
    Bises

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  50. It sounds like a wonderful trip. would love to go to Venice again one day, your photos are fantastic. I am new to your blog and I´ve enjoyed the reading, your post are quite interesting, I will follow you

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  51. Vagabonde,
    I am glad to hear you could travel with your husband.
    Your photos going with narrative words showed me how romantic Venice is, and how happily you enjoyed!! I could hear sweet canzone form gondolas! Your trip is my dream trip!
    keiko

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  52. What a beautifully put together post. I love the maps and details you selected. Best of all I'm glad you got to go.
    Now how's hubby doing?
    Thanks for visiting my post too.

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  53. It looks like heaven, your room and the view. How fortunate. I have not yet been to Venice, and it is starting to annoy me. We just watched Katherine Hepburn in "Summertime" — a film I was not aware of. I thought Venice was the charmer in this one, though I like her very much. And now here you are with your fabulous photos.

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  54. Oh what a beautiful place. I love seeing Venice through your eyes. Your room is lovely and the view just amazing. What a great trip. I'll just keep soaking in your photos.

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  55. Thank you very much for visiting my blog and leaving a comment. I appreciate it very much and read each comment with pleasure. If you asked me any question I’ll go to your blog to answer. I’ll try to visit your blog shortly. Thanks again – I love it when you visit.

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  56. I really enjoyed your post on Venice. My husband and i went there 2 years ago and stayed several days. will definitely look forward to more of your posts on this. Hope that you have a wonderful holiday!

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  57. Thank you for sharing your trip to Venice! It all looks wonderful, I am so glad you found such a great place to stay and eat in La Serenissima.

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  58. We were in Firenze, but didn't get to Venice and have regretted it ever since. We'll have to try to get back there again.

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  59. For sure, you had a great vacation! Good luck planning your next trip!

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