Venice

This is a more elevated view of Venice than one might normally expect to get without climbing a campanile. It thereby conveys an indirect impression of the scale of the MSC Preziosa which had minutes earlier cast off and sailed from the cruise terminal. This was taken from the 14th deck of the vast ship that was carrying in its passengers and crew more than twice the population of Arnside. We can see the domes of the Santa Maria della Salute which is on the Grand Canal, and in the distance on the right, the tall tower of the Campanile in the Piazza San Marco.

After an early morning flight from Gatwick, we were transferred directly from Venice airport to the cruise terminal, though we were to have an opportunity to see Venice up close on our return (as will be explained in a forthcoming back blip).

This cruise was to celebrate my Dad's 90th birthday on the 24th September. After our Norwegian trip earlier in the year, Wifie and I had agreed that one cruise was enough to last us another twenty years. Little did we know that within 6 months we would be on another, and this one on a monster of a ship, not the dinky ex-ice breaker we had gone to Norway in. The idea of this cruise was that it would be the best way of everyone celebrating this big occasion together, Ray & Sylvia joining us from Australia, the party totalling 10 adults and a baby. The itinerary was varied and included several countries Wifie and I had never been to.

I shall post a full set of back blips to chart our progress from here to Istanbul and back (the first two backblips are already on). It will be a few days before I get them all posted.