As many of you know of course, Kemm and I have jetted off to Italy this time, but not before a bad start with me walking around the house, handbag on shoulder, waiting for our pick-up – brrrr brrrr, phone call – sorry, you’re flight’s been cancelled! And that was from the driver who was due to pick us up! 5 minutes later we heard from Emirates – the flight had not even left Auckland so they had certainly known for a good few hours but hadn’t got the message to us –mmmm…..
Anyway a few phone calls later and we moved everything out by 24 hrs – so yes, Scruffy, I heard you barking but you didn’t Know I was still home!!!
So it was then Wednesday night when we headed out – first flight direct from Brisbane to Dubai – 15 hours worth, then a 5 hour wait in transit at Dubai airport before our next leg from Dubai to Venice of 6 hours. A very long haul but we both did manage a few hours sleep along the way.

Arrival into Venice was a little mixed up – our transfer from the airport to Venice was not on the Emirates list of transfers – but a quick mention that it was supposed to have been yesterday and all was remembered! Ahh, you’re those people! So it was a 15 minutes water taxi trip – Rod joined us as we had ended up on his flight with our delay out of Brisbane. SO the 3 of us were delivered to the hotel door by water taxi a little while later.

Met a the door by John and Suzanne who were heading out for a walk. For those unaware – there are about 12 of us all heading this way all meeting up at this hotel – most heading to the Dolomites for skiing but myself, Trish and Marg heading south to Tuscany, Rome and Naples for the next 10 days. Kemm is heading north with the skiers but as he is now becoming well known as “Sir Lunchalot”, he is in charge of checking out suitable eating establishments for the group. There are a couple of those going who believe they are there for the skiing but others are there for the lunches and anything else they may miss out on if they don’t go!

So, last night 5 of us headed out for a feed – all very tired and after 10 minutes of ‘this one?’, this one? atc – I was so tired I chucked a whammy, walked off and just left the others to it. I don’t think I have ever been so tired and jet-lagged. I went straight back to the room climbed into bed and that was it! The others had the biggest pizza they have ever seen and headed back – all to bed of course. So it’s my turn for a true Italian pizza tonight.

Today we all me at breakfast – it looked like a miserable day outside and all decided to do their own thing. It certainly has been a miserable day –cold, wet, yuk! Kemm and I headed over to get a 12 hour water bus pass – sorry – all on strike for the next 12 hrs!!! So I suggested we walked to the Rialto Bridge area which we have just returned from – we are drenched and cold!!! I actually think Venice may go under water if this rain keeps up for the next day or so – although I’m told St Marks Square already is, as it is quite regularly. The weather is such that I now am not concerned whether we get there or not – there’s always another day to visit – not sure when though!!!
But even now having walked this area – there’s no place like Venice – it’s absolutely amazing walking around here – it’s all down this lane, over that little bridge, under that walkway, up that alley, over the bridge, around this corner etc – where the hell are we now!!!!!!!
The maps are all in Italian, the street signs are all in Italian and everyone is looking up at street signs saying ‘shall we go this way” or ‘which way?’ All good fun and it really isn’t that hard – just takes a lot of walking!!!

So first day almost over – too wet to do much and water buses on strike! Pat and Marg arrive – mmm. About now I think so will head out for lunch and they should be here when we get back.

Most are off to the Dolomites in the morning, we 3 are heading to Tuscany for 4 days. Have to get our bags over the big bridge first in the morning to get to the railway station! Already some good stories of others arriving and clunking their bags up and over the bridge. Lots of fun!