nlbarber

Tue, 19:52: Back @ hotel shortly after midnight on Christmas after nice dinner with L's host family.
Tue, 19:53: Up at 5:15 am, checking out w non-English speaking clerk @ 5:50. New credit card doesn't work, but then neither does R's. Paid cash.
Tue, 19:53: Clerk made cappuccinos, we walked 5 min to train station, validated 5-day rail passes, waited 4 train to wake up--V. is end of line.
Tue, 19:53: Got to Roma Trastevere station only a few min late, caught 2 taxis to Termini. Paid the 1€ for toilets, killed time until train was posted.
Tue, 19:53: Frecciaargente "Silver Arrow" to Venice via Florence, second fastest Eurostar trains. First class seats, not a lot of leg room, though.
Tue, 19:53: Successfully dealt w conductor on RailPasses, we stamped wrong page & hadn't filled in passport numbers. All OK now, though.
Tue, 19:53: Drinks cart offers free drinks and cookies a la airline. Ears are popping at almost every tunnel--much worse than plane.
Tue, 19:54: Bought sandwiches crudo/mozzarella & speck/Edam @ station, unsure abt train food or prices. Nice sandwich, outstrips McD choice nearby.
Tue, 19:58: Private water taxi to hotel on Grand Canal, arriving @ private dock. Ca'Sagredo is next to Ca'd'Oro--ritzy. Very spacious Jr Suite rooms
Tue, 20:00: We're underdressed and under aged for Ca'Sagredo's clientele, I think.

Tue, 20:26: Wandered out into tourist-crowded streets to Piazza San Marco, admired small part of Basilica's incredible mosaics, fended off hucksters.
Tue, 20:35: Back towards hotel in cold gray dusk, found undistinguished trattoria for OK pasta, early.
Tue, 20:40: Explored hotel (restored palace), then used comp tickets for wine/coffee in bar. Sharing w L tonigh--she just took advan of posh bath.
Tue, 20:41: Watching Toy Story 3 in Italian--only saw it once, amazingly can follow the story easily.
Tue, 21:05: Left out the Christmas gift exchange after dinner. Kids gave me a wood calendar cat, L gave a pretty bottle for live oil fr Emilia's shop.

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