dani negreanu

+ 1, same here. Reflection just offers more.

Have a safe trip, with the cherry at the end 😘 Helen (aka fromseatoshining sea) has my whatsapp number, take it from her, just in case 😉

@Momof3gurlz Deb, When you alight at San Zaccaria stop, you'll see right in front of you a "hole in the wall" -- Go through it -- and you'll emerge in a nice square. Continue until the end and turn left (we're talking a few meters....) On the corner, on your right -- Hotel Fontana 😎 Rinse and repeat whenever you need the vaporetto 😉

Debbi, so glad you've got a warm welcome. 🤞 you'll finally find your roots. Kind of a "wake up call" for those of us who take having known parents for granted....

+ 1 , @FromSea2ShiningSea Helen & Marty 💐

@aussielozzie18, @MJSailors and @sgmn I've read all the 3 books of the Thursday Murder Club.... So far, the 2nd one (The man who died twice) was, IMHO, the best 😎 Enjoying now the newest Deborah Crombie's "A killing of innocents". I've read all her books in the series.

Mark, how is you DD doing one week after the surgery? 🤞

It is... I've found it funny that the very first question on the visa application was.... "Do u have a valid visa to US/UK/Australia"? I figure they say: "if US gave you a visa, then you're good for us too"😉The US tourist visa, BTW, is also not an easy one to get... because of Covid, whoever needs one now, has to wait until September for an appointment at the US embassy... Tough times for travelers. A definite NO. I'm doing it WHEN I like to, to WHOEVER I like to, I really enjoy helping people. [No offense to Ken, pls. @Ourusualbeach] + 1 @DaniDanielle, Marietta 😘 When DS1 was still a FA, and we got very cheap tickets in BC, I was eagerly awaiting the "new kid in town - the 787". I was hoping that the BC experience in the new class will be much better than on 777. I was very disappointed. I found the seats and the surroundings not comfortable. Going to sleep was like performing a MRI test [like sliding into a tunnel...]. When I "complained" to DS1, he told me that the best seats on 787, and also value for money, are the "premium" ones. So glad that you made the right choice, Deb. Speaking of Venice -- There are different kind of tickets for the various "water buses" [vaporetto]. The single tickets are outrageously expensive .. One way [not return] is 9.30 Euro... A "return" -- 19 Euro... We bought a 48 hour "free" travel for 35 Euro, a 24 hour is 25 Euro. The clock starts on the first trip, so they can be bought in advance. You have to "validate" your ticket with each trip. If you plan to visit the neighboring islands, like Murano or Burano, they're a good bargain, relatively speaking. The Alilaguna tickets are not included in this "deal". Very important -- you'll have to walk about 10 mins (there is a mover) from the terminal to the Alilaguna "port". It's clearly marked, like from this point on -- 6 mins walk... My advice -- pack lightly. You'll have to "schlepp" your luggage to Fontana, from Fontana to the train station, board a train to Rome, etc., you get the gist.... My "secret" of traveling with carry on only is simple -- one color "gets all". Blue - blue shoes, sandals, sneakers, pants, shirts (or whatever goes with blue). I don't shy away from washing "undies" in the sink, light shirts too. Use also your Diamond laundry perks. Thanks, I hope so too, I'm still having nightmares of running through Athens airport with no avail. On a happy note, the same DS1 as above has traveled yesterday to Sri Lanka, for his annual surfing trip. I wish he exhibited the same temerity in finding himself a bride... He brought his surfing board for DH to pack it well ....

@BonTexasNY Bonnie, we're flying to Marrakech when you're leaving the Oasis.... Managed to get DH the difficult to achieve visa... Our neighbors have roots there, visited several times, and took me through the steps. Also, we're going to get some "tips" on being in a real Arab country. I was so focused on finding a convenient flight, that I didn't notice the Ramadan will start shortly after our arrival... They fast through the day, and only eat in the evenings, this -- a whole month. Luckily, I have my Romanian (European) passport, so I needed visa just for the "peasant" 😉

Well done. Did u book directly on their site? They give an additional 10% off if you pay cash... Works for us 😎 There are streets. Canals instead of roads. The only point linked to land is the bus and the train station. The Fontana is quiet yet very central to everything. We walked from there to all the main sites. For Rome -- Check out this hotel. If you book on their site, you get a nice discount. Again, very very central, you can walk to all the major sites, and the rates are very reasonable. https://www.argentinastylehotel.com/en/

@Momof3gurlz I replied about Fontana and just now read the whole post. So, if you're flying into Venice, you can choose to take a "land" option to reach Venice, or a "water" option... The cheapest "water" option is with Alilaguna Blu line (the one we took), and it has the Fontana on its itinerary. This line is fitted for ferrying people with luggage, either to Venice or to the cruise terminal. It is 15 Euro pp one way. The Hilton Stucky was way over our budget, but it is very popular with US travelers, and it is on the above line itinerary. https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/vcehihi-hilton-molino-stucky-venice/

@dani negreanusomewhere I recall seeing you comment on Hotel Fontana in Venice. Would you mind telling me what you liked and/or disliked about it? Is there something in particular we should be looking for location wise? @Momof3gurlz The best thing about this hotel is its location, very near (a mere 3-4 mins straight walking) a main waterbus stop (San Zaccaria, one very near stop to San Marco), no stairs and bridges involved. As I mentioned in my musings about "living" in Venice, if you're tired after a day of touring, you cannot call a taxi... It is a lot of walking back to your "home" or you board a waterbus, hopefully near a stop. For us, this stop had the advantages of being on the route from the airport to the cruise terminal, which isn't relevant for you anymore. If you plan to arrive to Venice by train (Santa Lucia), better be looking for a hotel near the train station. There were several recommendations for no bridge/no stairs hotels near the train station in Italy's ports of call. Usually, those are more expensive than Fontana, which is low-mid range. It's a family owned hotel, boasting an elevator, which is quite rare in this price bracket. Another more expensive option is to hire a water taxi, if your hotel has its private stop. Deb, pls. let me know if you'd like me to "expand" my reply 😘 From Italy's ports of call -- https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/464-italy-ports/ Quoting @edinburgher Some folks take the number of bridges AND the closest vaporetto stop into account when researching hotels. There should also be porters at or close to the train station, and you could consider using that service. Quoting @cruisemom42 I loved staying at the Sina Palazzo Sant'Angelo. It faces the Grand Canal, entrance is just steps from a water dock with stops for both vaporetti and Alilaguna; I'm sure water taxis can tie up there as well. No bridges to hotel is heaven and if you get the vaporetto pass, sightseeing is so easy. Location was perfect for us; about midway between St. Marks and the Rialto bridge. Very close to La Fenice and some nice restaurants in that area. The rooms are typically Venetian without being overdone. The breakfast buffet was extensive and the staff were very friendly.... Join their Sina Club before booking and you will save additional %. https://www.sinahotels.com/en/h/sina-palazzo-santangelo-venice/

It looks so yummy. Those portions are enormous 😎

+ 1 @h20skibum + 1 @h20skibum ***************************************************** @grapau27 Graham, so glad your Sarah is improving 🌷 ***************************************************** @DaniDanielle Marietta, so glad Charlie is cranky 😉

Wishing you and Dick a very enjoyable cruise. First time on Wonder? Congratulations are in order 💐

NO !!! I was so very cold, even having, I think, 6 layers on me... I really couldn't understand how those with the big decollete / low neckline were not cold... ☹️ + 1 💐 Helen, @FromSea2ShiningSea ************************************************************************************* @h20skibum , Mark, eagerly awaiting good news 🤞

Well, I'm sure what we called "freezing" (2 to 3 Celsius) will be "balmy" for you... 😉

Yes. It was the first thing our renter mentioned... As "passers-by", we were more interested in a forecast without rain, like the heavy rain we've experienced in July 2014, right before our cruise... You can see this bride enjoying the "flooding" in St. Mark's .... Last batch of pics ....

Credit where it is due -- the next 2 pics are the only ones I've taken with my IPhone.... Since DH was "busy" chasing more interesting "objects" [in his opinion 😉] -- I really liked their shoes and here -- the intricate lady's robe More of DH pics -- twins

I call it "the myth of the Katakolon train".... No train in June 2022. We took a bus to Olympia for 10 Euro pp return.

This.

More pics from Venice St. Mark's fogged in -- Our "street" The entrance to our flat [left] My fav meal pre-cooking Gondola station Waiting for passengers

Helen, sorry you had all those palpitations, glad you made it to your son's wedding. Mazel Tov 💐 Oy, Marietta, wishing you strength and wishing Charlie a complete and swift recovery. My thoughts are with you both 😘 + 1 @Sunshine3601, glad you caught it in time 🌷 @bobmacliberty B & M, enjoy your trip and make the most of the weather whenever agreeable. Those vine prices are out of the roof.... Thanks for the pics.

Kauai might be a close second 😉 BTW, "Helen", how is your new life? Start to "fit in"? Did u manage to sell your old house?

I "hear" you... One of the main reasons I've booked this particular flat in Venice was his proximity to the water bus [Alilaguna Blu] from Marco Polo... What I couldn't know and I know now, is that there are 4 (four) stops named Fte Nuove... Of course, our "bus" stopped at A, which necessitated climbing many stairs and then descending them, after all the running around we've done the flying out day... On our previous stay in Venice, pre-cruise, I've got an excellent recommendation on Italy's Ports of Call about a hotel [Fontana], who's main "asset" was "no bridges and no stairs to cross from Alilaguna Blu stop" 😁 I've booked this hotel, and, indeed, it was straight on a mere 4 mins from the stop. It was ideally situated for arriving from the airport, and the day of the cruise (July 2014), to board it to "Crociere". Wishing you an enjoyable stay at Disney with much higher temperatures, and an amazing cruise 🌷 @Momof3gurlz Deb & Andy, belated best wishes for your 35th anniversary 💐 I have another batch of pics, this time from DH's camera -- The Rialto Bridge fogged in The St. Mark's Basilica The Grand Canal The Bridge of Sighs