Hello from Venice!Day Two of our Eastern Mediterranean voyage is just about behind us now. Our Silversea-sponsored shore excursion, conversations with engaging crew members, and a terrific cocktail party in the Grand Suite followed by dinner at La Terrazza has set the bar very high for this cruise. I'm confident Silversea will continue to meet our, shall we say, discerning expectations!
Last night after an excellent hot rocks dinner at the Pool Grill, we explored the ship and stayed up late enough to order up a few room service snacks after midnight. Sunday dawned with absolutely perfect weather (low 80s with no humidity and plenty of sunshine). We woke early, skipped breakfast, and headed pierside to join our tour excursion.
We opted for a half-day tour of Doge's Palace and St. Mark's Basilica. (Of course, it's Sunday, so the church is closed to visitors during church services though you can enter the church after 2 pm if you prefer to explore the city on your own after the tour comes to an end). This particular tour is an excellent introduction to Venice, but it does require a significant amount of walking, so wear comfortable shoes and bring a bottle of water from the ship (or keep a few euros in your pocket so you can buy a refreshing gelato).
The tour begins with a short walk from the ship to the water taxi pickup point. After a short 15-minute ride, we were walking toward the Bridge of Sighs, sadly obscured by some garish billboards from one of the corporate sponsors that is helping to restore the bridge and other historic treasures around Venice. The intention is good, but the execution certainly needs some work.
We then entered Doge's Palace for an extensive tour. we were given earbud radios so we could hear the guide's commentary even if we were not close to her. I learned more about Venetian history in a few hours than I previously thought possible! She was also very good at giving us enough time to take photos.
Next up was a short walk through St. Mark's Square. Since the Basilica was closed to the public, it was really just a walk-through of the square. The tour ended in a Murano glass-blowing workshop/showroom.
After the tour Leonard and I chose to wander through the streets as we made our way back to the cruise terminal. It was on of those perfect port days that blended a solid tour with some independent exploration.
As much fun as the afternoon turned out to be, sail-away from Venice was exhilarating! Sailing the Grand Canal is an experience everyone should have. The setting sun glistened off all the red rooftops and church domes and spires. Truly breathtaking.
We were lucky enough to be invited to a cocktail party in one of the Grand Suites, so we enjoyed the scene from posh digs. Dinner at La Terrazza followed and our group closed the place down. Everyone onboard has been wonderful and we find that while our companions on shore excursions and at dinner may be from all around the world, each one has been interesting and fun to talk with.We are now sailing toward Trieste, Italy. Stay tuned for more details and photos.
