Day at sea between Dubrovnik and Athens. Another morning doing about a mile around the jogging track. Later in the day, ship’s officers host a Cruise Critic member meet-and-greet in Le Bistro, the ship’s French specialty restaurant.
Norwegian Jade Cruise, Day 2: Dubrovnik
The next morning I go for a few rounds around the ship’s jogging track and reward myself for this accomplishment with three breakfasts on the ship’s Lido buffet deck. Today we visit our first port of call: Dubrovnik — an old medieval walled town on the Dalmatian coast, now one of Croatia’s most popular summer destinations.
Norwegian Jade Cruise, Day 1: Welcome Aboard
- Norwegian Jade
- Venice Cruise Port
- Cruise photoset, part of the full Europe trip collection
- Video: Timelapse of Venice Departure
- Video: NCL Jade Balcony Stateroom 9506
I have no wry or cynical David Foster Wallace-ish observations on this cruise other than what I mentioned about pre-boarding unpleasantness before departing Venice. Once aboard the ship we had a lovely week, with epic destinations, flawless weather, friendly service, and delightful food. In a week we passed through Dubrovnik, Athens, Ephesus, and Split.
Continue reading Norwegian Jade Cruise, Day 1: Welcome Aboard
Venice, Day 4: Departure
We have a few hours to kill between hotel check-out and cruise boarding, and our hotel is nice enough to keep our bags in storage for the day. It’s enough time to go to the Chiesa di San Pantalon and see Fumiani’s famous ceiling painting of the life of Saint Pantaleon: a masterpiece of trompe-l’oeil which makes the church appear taller than it is, open to a sky spilling over with baroque figures in every direction. It is a wonder to just sit there, looking up, for an hour. No photography allowed.
Also, in my mind, I have rechristened “San Pantalon” as “Saint Pants.”
Venice, Day 3: Touristy Stuff
- Full Venice photoset on Flickr
- Piazza San Marco (St. Mark’s Square)
- Basilica San Marco
- Palazzo Ducale (Doge’s Palace)
- Rialto
Today is reserved for the touristy stuff around San Marco: the Piazza, the Basilica, the Campanile, the Doge’s Palace, the Rialto Bridge. After another breakfast of rolls and croissants and Nutella and ham at Ristorante Ribot we hop aboard the No. 1 Vaporetto at Piazzale Roma for a ride down the Grand Canal to San Marco. (Walking in Venice is nice but we’re trying to beat the day-tripper crowd to the piazza this morning.) It’s cloudier today, the color not as great for photos, but this is Venice, and everything looks lovely regardless of light.
Venice, Day 2: Art
Awakened in the early morning by a thunderstorm, the first and only instance of inclement weather we experience in Venice. Lightning flashes outside, and a few drops of water come into the hotel room through the open window; nothing worth closing it for. On second waking, the rain is over. The canal outside is bright green. Complimentary breakfast at Ristorante Ribot is a simple affair of rolls and croissants with thinly sliced Italian ham and coffee and juice. I discover the joy of Nutella.
Venice, Day 1: Arrival
Riding on the right side of the plane flying into VCE (Venice Marco Polo Airport), we are treated to a lovely aerial view of Venice as we descend from west of the airport.
After getting our luggage (just one suitcase shared between us plus two rolling backpacks), it’s a long walk through the concourse to the ground transportation desk. 5 euro per person, one way on the ATVO Express bus to Piazzale Roma, then a 16 minute wait for the bus outside terminal, 20 minute ride down Via Orlanda and over Ponte Della Liberta to Venice. The bus is covered in a wraparound ad that makes the windows fuzzy but out the front I can see Venice draw nearer, the view marred only slightly by giant ships at the cruise port. (Can’t really complain; we’ll be sailing out on one of those ships soon.) Some kind of 1950s Beach-Boys-like music is playing anachronistically on the radio as we pull into Piazzale Roma.
Amsterdam Layover Excursion
Seven hour layover in Amsterdam Schiphol. At the transfer desk a friendly KLM representative tells us we have enough time to go see the city and still get back before boarding, plus it’s a nice day out. We decide to see if the excursions desk in the terminal is offering any tours.
IAD-AMS
Flying from Dulles Airport, to Amsterdam Schiphol, typing as I go. This might be a bit of a whiny ramble.
Atlanta Weekend
Work sent me to Atlanta last weekend for SMACSS and AWA12 at the GTRI Conference Center. Amy came along to see the High Art Museum and Botanical Garden while I workshopped and conferenced, and we both visited the Georgia Aquarium before heading home. While in Atlanta we stayed at the Midtown Artmore Hotel, a short walk from the conference venue.