Venezia!

Friday morning, we awoke on the train around 7:30am which was really 6:30 prior to the time change.  Nevertheless, not a bad night.  Certainly and adventure to travel in a sleeper car, but something I need not repeat.  I can say I've done that.

Passing miles of vinyards.  Some of us missed the vinyeards

We slept well and had a nice continental breakfast in the dining car before returning to our compartment to await our arrival to the city.

We also bathed in this tiny "bathroom" closet in our compartment.  Hot and cold water operated by foot pedal.










Although it was heavily overcast, we had an outstanding view of Lake Como with the Alps surrounding the lake on the other side.  Breathtaking!  Sorry, photo opportunities were terrible due to rain on the windows.

Venice was frankly miserable weather wise; cold, rainy, and dark.  We were happy to get to our lovely apartment, turn up the heat and stay put for a while.

I even stuck my head out the window for a bit of air and this view:

But the rain finally ended and we got out for a while in the evening.  The way to travel here is on the water bus, the Vaparetto.  There really are no cars or trucks here.  It's not like there's a road in the back of buildings.  Water transportation, that's it.  Police, ambulance, taxi, bus, it's all on the water.  It was funny to see a tractor trailer truck on a barge having produce off loaded at the grocery store dock.  And food deliveries to restaurants are by hand cart.  Fascinating place.  Don't know how they could have conceived and built it.

Rialto Bridge

S. Maria della Salute under the moon

Quiet night in Venice belying what a sunny Saturday would bring.

Saturday was sunny and mild and the crowds at St Marks were huge!  I thought it would be quieter at this time of year, but Venice is certainly a popular destination at any time.  Morning was dominated by Aqua Alta; the seasonal high water.  We had seen what we thought were risers for music performances the previous evening only to discover that they place the "risers" around as paths and this is how tourists are accommodated during high water.

A

Inside St Mark's

Piazza San Marco

The good news is that the tide was on the way out and things were soon dry.  Here are some other photos from our day touring about Venice.

Approaching St Mark's

The infamous Bridge of Sighs

Inside St Mark's.  That whole ceiling is mosiac!

Outside St Mark's

Venitian homes

Not sure why this is considered a good idea, but lot's of people like to get photographed with the friendly pigeons on them.

The bakery had some interesting cookies.  Really beautiful.

Canal scene

Bye for now.  I'll try to keep the travelogue going but tomorrow we board our cruise ship and I'll be publishing intermittently.  Ciao!

Hello Paris!

Okay, we have 6 hours in Paris so what should we do?  I know, the Eiffel Tower!

It's beautiful!

It's November, the lines will never be shorter and we'll have plenty of time.  Okay, we take the 14 train 2 stops, change to the C train and 6 stops to the Tower!  PoC (Piece of Cake)!

Construction, so the C train isn't stopping here today.  Okay, let's go outside and get our bearings.  It's Paris, we'll recognize something!  Industrial area. Hmmm...  I know, we'll walk along the river there!  It will lead to Notre Dame!  Only after a mile we still can't see anything we recognize!  And now it's raining.  I know, let's have lunch!  Look, Buffalo Bills Barbecue (really)!

Garson, how do we get to the Eiffel Tower?  Two more blocks to the 6 train and stand on a crowded car for just 15 stops.  And then walk another 6 blocks!

Whoa, this is awesome!  And big!

Waiting...

Line.  Long line.

...still waiting...

 Please, god, please...

....STILL WAITING!

 We ascend!

At last ...the view!

This is amazing!

It's romantic...

And cold!  And windy!

Alright, Ted, back off.  Can you not read Nancy's expression?

And dark!
Let's get the Metro back to the station for our Venice train.  Getting a bit close time wise, isn't it?

I know, lets take the C train which is only 3 blocks from here.  We'll take it one stop short of the construction and then just walk across the river to our waiting Venice train!

Okay, it's only rain.  We can do this.  Oh, we misread that sign and now have to backtrack a 1/2 mile?  In the rain?  Okay.  Thirty minutes until departure!  Let's get back to the lockers and pick up our luggage.  It's just down this hall..... well, maybe this level.  No, it's up there.  Let's look for the sign.  There are no signs.  Let's go to information.  They speak crappy English.  Let's ask this nice guy.

Bottom line:  nice guy stays with us and guides us.  We get to the lockers, get our stuff, run to the train, board, sit down and the train leaves the station.

Six hours to get back and forth to the Eiffel Tower and the nice guy saves our vacation.  Wish I got his name.  Nancy thanked him.

Dinner on the train

Good Night!

Windsor, Rachael and Goodbye London

Now we're on the Eurostar to Paris. We leave St Pancrass Station and almost immediately decend into our first tunnel. After about 7-8 minutes we emerge in sunlight with the London skyline way in the distance. My ears pop off and on as we change elevation in the tunnel. Just like a plane ride. A bit of travel noise and slight rocking. After about 12-15 minutes we make a stop at Ebbsfleet. So much for express! It's really neat watching the countryside fly by and I'm anticipating our entrance into the chunnel. I think it's less dramatic than it sounds as we'll be moving quickly through total darkness.  I'm correct.  It's dark and not at all dramatic.  No indication that you're entering or leaving but it is a cool way to get to the continent.

Crowded cab ride to the station.  Ted is NOT happy!

St Pancrass Station, London

Last night was another fun evening as we had dinner in our apartment with Rachael Champion. She is now married (surprise!) and working as an artist in London. I so happy to see her looking well and happy and living the dream of traveling and creating art. She is an amazing lady, biking around London and the world. Great job, Rachael!  But my gross error was to fail to take a photo of Rachael.  Agghhh!

Earlier in the day, we visited the incomparable Windsor Castle. I've seen Versailles so I thought this would be nice, but it was truly grand. The castle is Versailles size, though the grounds are not, and it is a magnificently ornate and beautiful castle. Great artwork and furniture abound and no expense was spared in the construction and furnishing of this place. Also, didn't realize that it was over 1000 years old. Unlike Versailles, photos were not allowed so I have no interior shots, but the sights were extraordinary. My favorite was St Georges Chapel completed during Henry VIII reign. The attention to detail in the woodwork and stonework was remarkable and so beautiful. Almost made me want to purchase a book of pictures of this amazing church. Nah, just kidding.  Incidentally, Henry is buried there along with Jayne Seymour.

I made a friend just as we were leaving. One of the castle dogs was being walked and he insisted that I play ball with him.  Who's a playful little guy!

St Georges Chapel

The grounds are beautiful

Alright, but this is the last time!

The town of Windsor, which surrounds the castle, was charming and quaint in that typical English way. Between the rail station and the castle entrance (about ¼ mile) there is one eating establishment after another. I guess everyone arrives hungry, like we did, or would like a meal before heading back to London (50 minute train trip). I was amused to find McDonalds, Pizza Hut and Starbucks separated only by an English Pub lining the boulevard. Funny sight. We can't escape!

This is why they hate us!  McDonalds just out of view.

Good night Queen!  Good night Windsor!

Great day and Raj!

WARNING!  Lot's of photos today.  I can't help it.  It was a good photo day!

The first thing I notice here is that there is no autumn color.  In fact, all the trees are quite green and the leaves remain on the trees.  Unusual for a city so far north of New York.  I hear the the greyness is oppressive at this time of year but we had a 24 hour rainy period surrounded by lots of sunshine which is fine by me.  In fact yesterday was beautiful!  Around 58 degrees and sunny as opposed to back home where it snowed!

London on Nov 12.  Everything is so green!

Yeah, I know, roses in November.  It's like that in London.

Off to the British Museum.  What can I say other than - awesome.  So much history, my head spins.  Just magnificent.  A reminder of back home was the statue of a cymbal player.

Yeah, yeah, but it's really about the fact that he's playing cymbals.  Note to self: send band uniform to the British Museum.

Alright, enough with the culture.  Off to the London Eye!  On the walk there we passed many wonderful London sights.

James, you have to see this store!

Just another London Pub.  If you can make it through the garden!

I love the look of London streets

Near the London Eye

Best part of the Eye - they have senior discounts!  God, I love retirement!  So, this was really worth it.  It's amazing and the views are glorious.  I couldn't stop taking photos!  It just get's better and better.  And, maybe because it's November, but there was no waiting.  Really great experience!

Walking bridge across Thames and Waterloo Station.  The BT Tower way in the background is in our neighboorhood

Parliament, Big Ben with Westminster Abbey behind

Buckingham Palace and St James Park

The Happy Couple

This thing is really big!

Then the walk back across the Thames to Waterloo Station and the Underground ride home provided more photo opportunities. 

Crossing the Thames.  London Eye, Parliament and Big Ben

Two birds Ted and I picked up on the bridge

More Parliament..

Outside Waterloo Station

Final shot of Big Ben (I promise)

But after sunset things continued to get even better because we had a dinner date with founding Spirit of Stony Brook Marching Band member Rajat Gupta.

Raj was a Nassau County kid who wanted to continue his marching band experience in college.  So he advocated to start a marching band and the university listened.  And the band was created during Raj's final semester at Stony Brook.  He played with us that semester and he remains an inspiration to all of us who knew him.  He now works in London and has a wonderful and charming girl friend, Numa (soon to be an M.D.) who was able to join us for dinner.  This was certainly a highlight of our trip.  We finished off the day with Raj and Numa joining us back at our great penthouse apartment.