21/06 - depart Barcelona for Venice at 9:55 am. Had breakfast and cab arrived 8:15 of max 30 min ride. Freeway accident caused traffic congestion and we arrived at departure lounge as they were queuing up to board so rush rush rush. On arrival, found that the best means from Venice airport to hotel was by water taxi @ E110 or public water bus @ E15 pp. We chose the latter and got here around 2:00. The number of people waiting to check in and consternation by staff with rooms not ready or issues with bookings suggested we were at a Fawlty Towers franchise. That was pretty well correct. After some delay we were put in a "pretty venetian style" unit on the first floor, with twin Juliette balconies overlooking a public courtyard [low volume traffic so little noise]. Heat had been over-powering since we stepped off the plane so the balconies were of no use. Air con was much better. As recompense for our delay we were offered a free, complimentary cruise around the islands with the hotel's 27' motor launch tomorrow morning. Too good to be true...? Dinner in restaurant out front - nice spaghetti marinaras and white wine - 20% discount to hotel guests made it quite reasonable - and to sleep around 10:00, exhausted.

Photos: Venice - hotel lobby, our room 506 [same as our cabin number would you believe?] and dinner 1st night.

22/06 - Venice - what a day. Up early for hotel buffet breakfast at 7:30. Met a nice couple from The Lakes Entrance in Victoria and hooked up for the morning, cruising around in a water taxi, courtesy of the hotel. Ha ha!! The name of the game was to get us to buy. First stop was Murano Island for glass blowing demo and heavy sales pitch. Marta bought a fridfge magnet she liked for E5 much to their annoyance and Kev bought a chandelier for E3800, no doubt much to their delight. Then another launch to Burano Island and the lace museum wth lace at E1000-1800 per tablecloth or bed cover. No takers there. Then the BIG surprise. NO LAUNCH for the return trip. Catch public ferry @ E7 pp was the only option to get back. Not even big buyers like Ray got the trip back. But that's not all... when we got to the jetty we found no public transport today to San Zaccaria, our stop for the hotel. Seems there is a strike by some employees. Closest stop was San Nove on the main island. When we got there [by ferry], the staff were most unhelpful. How many klms to San Zaccaria? Shrug of shoulders. How long to walk? Shrug again. Which way? Finger pointed vaguely to the left along the water. Although Marta and I were quite annoyed by this stage [understatement], it all seemed doable for us. However Kev and his wife were to catch a cruise ship this afternoon and their water taxi was scheduled to pick them up at San Zaccaria at 1:00 pm. We were already up to 12:35 with no idea how long it would take to get there and no one speaking English. Kev spotted a moored boat that looked like it may be a water taxi so I ran up and asked. Si. How much to San Zaccaria? E60. Kev accepted with glee. Trip took around 20 mins and looking at the shoreline, it would have taken several hours to walk IF we had known where we were going. The road along the shore was closed or broken in a couple of places so that would have made it REAL interesting on foot. As it was, we arrived just in time for them to head straight off. They didn't have time to complain but I sure did. Compensation given was given without question - a water taxi to our ship tomorrow, compliments of the hotel. Kev had already gone so nothing for him unfortunately. I heard an identical complaint in the lobby later that afternoon by a lady who had just paid E110 to get back by water taxi but only apologies for her.

Photos: Typical Venice canal, typical Burano canal & on water taxi to ship.