Time Delays and the Port of Venice (Venezia), Italy

Little did Judie and I know that we were to have a one-hour time delay leaving on the first leg of our journey. There continued to be many throughout each of our connections as we crossed and returned home. Our first stop was Venice, Italy. There was a delay boarding the ship of approximately ½ hour. After traveling nine hours eastward our bodies were in a state of AARRGGH! Some people did take the half hour to quickly walk the streets of Venice. I choose not to simply because it would have been rushed and I am not prone to enjoy that. I however got some lovely pictures. There will be a next time perhaps to take in the elegance of this lovely place. Second only to Greece, Italy has one of the oldest histories in Europe, the evidence of this shown by ruined temples, medieval castles, classical sculptures and fine Renaissance churches and paintings. Located at the head of the Adriatic Sea, an intricate web of tiny islands and canals make up the enchanting city of Venice. In this intimate setting where gondoliers serenade, delicate bridges lead to winding cobblestone streets, and glorious renaissance architecture form a fairy-tale backdrop, it is no wonder that many people feel it is the world's most romantic destination. So you see why I chose not to quickly and randomly go into the town. The architecture was enchanting. Venice’s nicknames include "Queen of the Adriatic", "City of Water" and "The City of Light." It is also the seat of Education in Europe. With a population of 271,663 (census estimate January 1, 2004). The city is included with Padua (Padova) in the Padua-Venice Metropolitan Area (population 1,600,000).