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Venice

A long weekend with Julie and Matt |

We made a couple of discoveries on this trip. Firstly, that's it's not a good idea to go when sick and secondly it's physically impossible to get from Acton to Gatwick on public transport by 7.05.

We left Thursday morning which required getting up at 4.15 am. Si had been cold all night which was strange so I wasn't totally surprised when he got out of bed and started vomiting. This was not a good start as I also had come down with a head cold on Wednesday. We carried on anyway, even though Si was a pretty horrible shade of green.

We caught a train from our place at 5.18am to Paddington, tubed to Victoria and then caught a train from Victoria to Gatwick (Si only woke to walk from one platform to the next). Once at Gatwick we then had to go over to the North terminal which takes another 10 - 15 minutes by little shuttle. We ran to the terminal to arrive at 7.09 am (baggage check in had stopped at 7.05 am). Fortunately, we grabbed a staff member at the back of the queue who took us straight to a computer terminal and got our bags checked before they had actually taken the flight off the computer system. It was probably lucky we were flying with BA as they seem a bit more relaxed.

Once we arrived at our hotel we met up with Julie and Matt for a coffee which was about all Si was up for. He then headed back to the hotel and went to bed, while I headed out for dinner with Julie and Matt.

Friday, started much better, Si was feeling heaps better and it was his birthday (although I forgot until about mid afternoon. But before you think bad of me he had as well). We caught the no1 water taxi the length of the Grand Canel and then headed over to Murano where they make all the glass stuff. After that we met up with Julie and Matt and had drinks before heading out to a proper Italian restaurant for dinner. We were very glad that Julie spoke Italian as there were no menus, just a woman telling us what was on it.

Saturday morning the four of us decided to pay the horrible price of 80 euros to have a ride around the canels in a gondala. Although expensive it wasn't so bad between four. It was so much nicer than I had expected.... although that could have been something to do with the bubbly we were drinking. It was a very enjoyable thing to do, and such a lovely way to see Venice.

Julie and Matt headed back to London on Saturday afternoon, so Simon and I spent the rest of our time exploring the city and taking in the atmosphere before heading home on Sunday.

Locations Visited: Venice, Murano


Comment
I have to say, I feel rather like a celebrity appearing on your travel log. I was just reading the journal entry about the Christmas Markets and came across this one as well. I could have sworn it was the two of you who absolutely despised xmas markets...or maybe it was just the cold you hated. Glad to see you are having a good time and as always keeping me on my toes for future travel planning. Have a happy Christmas - can't wait to catch up with you both in the New Year. Lots of love, J
Posted by: Julie Campbell on 18 Dec 2006

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