Cruise Diva's CRUISE
DIARY
~ Istanbul to Genoa ~
Two Days
in Magical Venice, Italy
June 12, 2002
If
there is a better way to arrive in Venice than by ship, I have yet to
discover it.
Silver Whisper reached the
"Queen of the Adriatic" before 7:30 am and I didn't want to
miss a moment. An early room service breakfast served as my wake-up
call. The doorbell never fails to arouse me and I had plenty of time
for juice, coffee, and flaky croissants before the campanile, or bell
tower of St. Mark's came into view. What a glorious vision on a clear
morning kissed with the promise of sunshine. It was made all the more
interesting by the commentary from the bridge, which was relayed to
early risers on the open decks and, to those of us watching from
starboard suites, on the television. My suite balcony proved to be the perfect
perch to view the sights on this itinerary.
 |
|
Hotel
Cipriani Gardens |
Before heading to the city, I had a
luncheon engagement at Hotel Cipriani. Situated on the Island of
Giudecca, it is just minutes by boat from St. Mark's Square. Attained
only by private launch, it affords convenient access to the city and a
tranquil haven for guests. After a stroll through the gardens, we
dined al fresco beside the magnificent swimming pool —the only
one in Venice— sampling the superb cuisine and the Hotel Cipriani's
unique "Casanova Salso" wine. Over an iced parfait and
espresso, we speculated whether Paul McCartney would be honeymooning
in one of the deluxe suites. The list of celebrity guests is
impressive and includes Hollywood's elite as well as genuine royalty
and even American presidents.
When the hotel's launch delivered me
back to reality—and the heart of Venice—the waves of swooping
pigeons, endlessly moving crowds, and heat took their toll. I was
ready to escape to Silver Whisper at the Stazione Marittima.
Although I've visited Venice a number of times, I've never mastered
the art of riding vaporetti, Venice's water busses. No
matter—our complimentary water shuttle made an hourly circuit
between Riva degli Schiavoni and Silver Whisper's berth—a
major convenience. I have a somewhat misguided sense of direction on
dry land and water only adds to my confusion.
I passed on a gondola ride along
Venice's narrow canals and libations at Harry's Bar with my friends,
as well as the evening's on board entertainment, a big screen film in the
Viennese Lounge. Excitement for this weary traveler
meant a movie in the VCR and comfort food—a good old-fashioned
cheeseburger, elegantly served by room service. I was asleep by the
time my head hit the down pillows.
June 13, 2002
Refreshed and revitalized, a shore excursion featuring famous
art works in less touristy surroundings filled my second morning in
Venice. The walking tour of Scuola Granda di San Rocco and Frari
Basilica satisfied my thirst to view the spectacular paintings of
Tintoretto, Bellini, and Titian in their historic settings. This is
surely one of Venice's highlights.
 |
|
Grand
Canal from the Rialto Bridge |
Instead of taking the tour's launch back to
the ship, a friend and I headed on foot through the maze of
streets, canals, and bridges from Frari Church to St. Mark's Square.
Our map proved to be bewildering and unnecessary; we
took the advice of our ship's Tour Manager and simply followed the
signs and arrows and eventually found the Rialto Bridge, a shopper's
haven with the bonus of a Grand Canal photo op. Lunch began to sound very
appealing and we barely slowed down in St. Mark's Square (where a
pigeon made a good luck "dropping" on me) on our way to a
waterside café. Celebrating our good fortune at being in
Venice on a beautiful day, we feasted on pizza and cappuccino.
Back on board Silver Whisper, a
"Bellini Party" on deck toasted our sailing from Venice.
"Bellini" is a refreshing combination of champagne and peach
liqueur—the perfect ending to two days in one of the world's most
beautiful cities.
Next -> Shore
Adventures in Split, Croatia & Bari, Italy
Back to the Istanbul
to Genoa Cruise Diary Index
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