And all too soon……

The end of the holiday! Boo!

We had another lovely breakfast sitting in the courtyard- the hardy Northern Europeans sit out and the Americans and Asians were sitting inside. We were next to a three generation of ladies family from Stuttgart. They got the overnight train from there to Venice. The young girl , a teenager slept and so did the elderly lady but the age 50 odd lady didn’t, she said that it was noisy - that would be me. I once got a sleeper to London and saw every hour!

We had such a good breakfast and I snaffled some fresh pancakes, apple strudel pastry and a pastry quiche type thing for us both for lunch on the plane. We went up and packed up, didn’t take long, one carry on suitcase, clothes pared down to wear just what you take - worked well.

Got the vaporetto at the end of the street down to the bus/train station area, was it really only five days since we arrived here? Seems longer. There was a water taxi sitting and I thought I would ask the price to the airport, €130! Thanks I said, but it’s a wee bit too expensive for us- would have loved to go tearing along all James Bond style to the airport but the €10 for the bus will have to do.

We waited for the 15 mins till the bus was due in from the bridge here watching the life on the water. Then, going at the speed of sound was a water ambulance with the siren going kicking up the waves as it went. Video mode on and run over to the other side to see it screaming round the next corner. Never mind some poor sod having a heart attack or whatever, all on the bridge had their camera or phones out capturing the spectacle! This is a still from my video. Great steering skimming the side of the bin boat!

Bus drew in and as I was waiting, third in the line , on the steps of the bus waiting to beep my ticket, this extremely rude Italian woman shoved my arm to get by me and of course I told her how bloody rude she was. Boy she had anger seeping from her pores. She sat on a seat next to us and practically ripped the pages of her newspaper turning it over . Chill woman !

Airport experience at Marco Polo was 9. Would have been a 10 if there had been a water fountain. A breeze through security, plenty of comfy leather seats with good lighting, plenty of toilets and clean!

Quickly nabbed a whole row to myself on the plane when the ‘cabin crew close doors’ was announced and spread all my stuff over the three seats:). It’s the simple things. Fabulous views again over Venice island as we took off, smooth flight, clear visibility coming into Edinburgh 2 hours 15 later with more great views, smooth landing and, and, amazingly, border force were pleasant and SPEEDY! No long lines and out of the terminal and our bus was sitting to pick up car! Wow. It was dam cold but dry. But of a shock after balmy 19-20 of Venice these past five days.

Venice - first time but loved it. The whole life on the Grand Canal and all the other little canals and alleyways is delightful. No cars, noisy scooters, motorbikes, e bikes, e scooters, skateboards - fabulous! There was no stinky smells, the Italians we met were lovely. The architecture was stunning. LOVED travelling by Vaporetto. Gelato, unreal flavours. Why don’t they make ice cream like that here ??? Maybe just as well I would be like a house end!

Hotels are more expensive and this was end of October so can imagine the cost in high season. But we enjoyed where we stayed very much and they weren’t a fortune and breakfast was included .

I so enjoyed my five days of Venetian delights!

I was in tears later getting home as it was another first after the death of my Mum. I always was on the FaceTime right away to let her know about the holiday- although I was always sending her photos and texts during the times away. We always would receive a funny reply from the food ones along the lines of what a plateful, you’ll need to be on a diet when home, etc etc. it’s just the missing and the emptiness and the laughs that are no longer there. Perhaps also a wee bit of post holiday blues.

Absolutely whacked at night and an extra cover on the bed, along with three bottleys, yes three !