2012 SFC Get On Da Boat, Get Outta Venice

The next two days-the official "start" of the cruise- were quite relaxing.  After running around Venice in search of the Sephora store (ah, the lure of makeup!) and a few last looks out the window of our room at the Hotel Bauer,





(well, someone has to clean the gondolas...might as well be a cute guy!!)


we hopped on board our water taxis to Crystal Cruises beautiful Crystal Serenity.  We glided past the ship to the water taxi mooring at the cruise ship terminal and Julia made (what would become) the comment of the cruise.


"I'm HOME!"


We had lunch, said "hi" to old friends- crew members who have sailed with our family for twenty years.  Then it was on to unpacking and exploring.  And lots of relaxing by the pool.


We sailed out of Venice the next day.  Almost everyone was "up top" on deck 13 to see the spectacular sail past Venice.







Alix enjoyed the view.





And the band played on.







Bye-Bye Bauer!!!!  Hope to see you again SOON!





A view of the Bridge of Sighs a little higher up than last time!



Buzz and Ashley having fun!





Buzz and Ashley with the girls who conquered Venice!








Nice little sailboat, dontcha think?











The name of this boat caught my eye.



"Lagniappe" is a quintessentially Louisianan word meaning "a little something extra."


As we slipped away from Venice, we reconvened on the "Bowling Alley"- we open all the veranda doors separating our staterooms so we can have one long deck and move back and forth between rooms easily.

Let the adventure to the Black Sea begin!!!

2012 SFC- Gondola Ride

Nope, I had never been on a gondola.

When we were in Venice the summer of 2007 (just before I started writing this blog), the ex (who wasn't ex at the time) took the kids on a gondola ride whilst I scrounged around the airport luggage rooms in search of our baggage.  But that's a memory I'd just as soon not recount.

After dinner, a poll was taken, and Will, Hutch, Alix and the Hancock crew decided to joined me for a nighttime ride through the canals of Venice.



I didn't want to use my flash, so some of the photos aren't terrific...but the trip was!!!



Our gondolier was....very....gondolier-like. Wonderful.



Hancocks in one boat, the rest of us in the other.



I think Lex liked it.




The grand canal at dusk is really magical, with all the lights reflecting in the water.








We had an "awwwwww" moment.  This couple just--I mean JUST- got engaged.





The fellow smiling and looking at the camera is the singer.  He seranaded ALL of us.  His accompanist has his back to us.  Charming moment--what fun to share in it!  Things like this can only happen in Venice.......


Our gondolier convinced Emerson that she needed to become a gondoliera.





Fun fact to know:  there are 496 gondoliers licensed in Venice....and only one gondoliera.  Make that two.


Then it was Hutch's turn.




He's getting the hang of it.



Confidence!



I think he may have a future career!!!!!

2012 SFC-- Venice Evening

I promise the rest of the posts about our summer family cruise won't be as detailed as this one  day in Venice.  But we had so much fun, I really want to be able to remember it.......so bear with me.

After I dragged  them bodily took everyone by the Ferrari store, we wandered a bit before reassembling at 5pm for- what else- wine on the Hotel Bauer's patio overlooking the Grand Canal. (Boy does that sound la-de-dah or what???)

Monday evening rush hour- Venice style.



Pigeons still eyeing us warily.



The architectural details always catch my eye.



I guess I reflect on the time it took to carve pieces like this.... in our fast-paced modern lives, we don't really take the time to add touches of beauty on everyday objects like bridges, do we?



I think about the carver.  I think about his inspiration.  Whose face does this represent?  A son?  A brother?  A friend?  Himself?

Well, enough of that.  On to dinner.  Ah, the looks we sometimes received when saying  "tredici" to the maitre d'.  But Ristorante  al Giglio had room for the thirteen of us.  








Perfect summer evening weather for dinner al fresco.





Is anyone paying attention to Julie?





YUM!





Jet lag may be getting to Julia again.



My dinner of mixed seafood fra diavolo was...simply amazing.



A beautiful evening of a beautiful day.

2012 SFC--Back to the Ferrari Store

As we wandered around after lunch, of COURSE I had to take everyone  by the Ferrari store.  They begged to see it. (Ok, that's a lie...my brother Will wanted to see Schumacher's 2002 car.  The rest of the crew probably couldn't have given a rat's ass....)

So here are a few more details from the beautiful chassis that won both the F1 driver's and the F1 constructor's championship in 2002 (Gawd, I am such a geek......)









The photo in front is of the 2012 chassis.  Man, how things have changed in 10 years!





(Remember, I'm not even a Ferrari fan.... I'm a RED BULL girl...)



Up close on the front wing is some damage..



The blog will now return to normal posting.........