Speeding across the water from the airport to Venice I was struck by how amazing it is that a middle class girl from Manhattan grew up to travel to Europe. This is not my first visit to Venice. It is the first time I’ll stay in a Venetian hotel.

Traveling with my husband and sister, Venice was our first stop on a 17-day vacation. As a 71-year-old wheelchair user with a 65-year-old husband and a 72-year-old sister I put a lot of work into planning the trip. I arranged to be met at the airport by an agent who would assist us with our luggage and transport us to a water taxi. It was important for us to have a hotel with a canal entrance. There was no way our little group could drag our luggage even a short distance. We collected our luggage from customs and were met by the representatives from Bucintoro Viaggi, S.R.L. These wonderful gentleman accompanied us every step of the way to the Duodo Palace Hotel.

The Duodo Palace Hotel was the perfect choice. This old family residence is elegant and the staff is professional, friendly, and eager to assist guests. Leaving our water taxi behind, the room attendant took over gathering our luggage. On checking in, I inquired about setting up transportation to the cruise port two and a half days later. Lo and behold the Venice cruise port was no longer operational. Our Norwegian cruise was scheduled to depart from Trieste, a town hours away! Panic set in!

The concierge immediately put my mind at ease. There were several ways we could get to Trieste. Unfortunately the least costly would involve our getting to a train that would carry us to the town. Then we would need to find a taxi to take us to the ship. The more expensive alternative was to hire a water taxi to take us to a place where we would have a car to take us directly to the cruise port. Exhausted from our flight we opted to think it over. In the end, the wonderful front desk lady arranged our voyage to Trieste by water taxi and hired car.

Despite this unsettling turn of events, we asked where we might go to dinner nearby. One thing it’s important to know about Venice is it’s a city built on canals. Small bridges over these canals involve going up and down steps. Luckily I am able to walk well enough to conquer these obstacles. On our first night we avoided crossing any canals by going to a delightful nearby restaurant.

The morning of our first full day in Venice we went down to the dining room for breakfast. What a delightful surprise! From fresh fruit and our choice of Cafe Americano, cappuccino, espresso or tea. Eggs, bacon, cheeses, prosciutto, croissants, and a variety of juices and breads were available. Everything was fresh and delicious. After filling up on our favorites we set out to explore the city.

On our way to the center of the city we passed a variety of shops selling leather bags, jewelry, beautiful clothing, souvenirs, furniture, Murano glass, and so much more. The streets were crowded with people shopping and sightseeing. We had almost reached our destination of St. Mark’s Square when my husband Neil realized he’d left something important back at the hotel. After some discussion, he and my sister parked me at a hotel cafe near a canal and headed back. No problem! I ordered a Campari and soda and a gelato and happily watched passing gondolas and passersby. On Neil’s and Kathy’s return we moseyed into the hotel bar for a brief repast. When in Italy you must eat!

Off to St. Mark’s Square and the Grand Canal!

The architecture in Venice is breathtaking. Interesting fact about the Rialto Bridge a/k/a The Bridge of Sighs- it is not named for romance. Prisoners being transported through a tunnel to their execution could see the bridge through a small opening in the stone wall. They would sigh as they went to their deaths.

After exploring the plaza and shopping for a few souvenirs we were ready for our next adventure. On our earlier visit to Venice Neil and I decided to forego the traditional gondola tour. I later regretted that decision. We more than made up for that with this gondola ride! For all travelers who think it’s silly or too “touristy”, you need to do this! It will give you a unique view of this city.

We returned to the dock as the sun was setting. Time for dinner! There are many cafes and restaurants in this area. We strolled around until we saw one that caught our attention. Restaurant Picin.

After dinner and dessert we were ready to call it a night. On our way back to our hotel we passed more shops with beautiful displays.

After a good night’s sleep and another delicious breakfast, we once again headed out. It was extremely hot that day and we found ourselves sitting in front of a Prada store. It was amusing watching people enter excitedly only to exit empty-handed a short time later. I knew better than to venture inside. I have very little self-control and this was our first stop on our trip. I could easily blow my entire budget in one day. When we had finally cooled down sufficiently we moved on. On our way to St. Mark’s Square we passed a small church. On impulse, we went inside.

After satisfying my need to acquire something new and dramatic, I picked up the requisite tee shirts for my grandchildren. We wandered around, watching other tourists posing for photographs in front of the basilica, the canal, and the Doge’s Palace. I’m an inveterate people watcher, a common trait of many authors. Finally, we arrived at the hotel cafe I remembered from our visit years earlier.

One of the best things about Venice and all of Italy is the relaxed atmosphere. It’s perfectly acceptable to sit at a cafe and linger over a meal or even a glass or two of wine or an espresso. As it was relatively late in the day we opted to have an early dinner. We knew we needed to get a very early start to Trieste the next day. We followed our final meal in Venice with a leisurely walk back to the hotel, once again passing shops filled with colorful treasures. Once back at The Duodo Palace, we packed our luggage and settled in for a good night’s sleep. Early the following morning we were assisted to the hired water taxi. We rode past the magnificent architecture of Venice, bidding farewell to the lovely city of canals and bridges. Arriving at the dock we were greeted by the driver who would transport us to the cruise port in Trieste. Next stop, the Norwegian Escape and an 11-day cruise!