Some random thoughts on Venice

View from plane

Tonight some time to blog my random thoughts.

Venice well it was good but not great that was to come.

I had wrong directions they were from the train station and should have been bus station it would have saved me walking and most of the bridges. I knew there were  bridges but did not expect slanted steps. A man took my case across the main bridge of course this was not for free and I paid him 2 euro he look disgusted like he wanted more well. After that I was prepared and just yelled NO they understand that. I do not like being hassled like that.

I got lost and asked people finally some man walking home with his family looked at the map and then as his family went in to the house he said I am going to help her find her hotel and he walked me to it carried my case over bridge I was so close I can’t believe I missed hotel signs, but then again not where I expected. The guy at check in at the hotel said oh he taxi man. I think he wondered why I did not pay him he though he brought me from the bus station I explained I had asked for directions.

The room was nice larger than London the bed very comfy and I then went in search of food had nothing since brekie except a roll. I found a toasted Nintetta sandwich that was its name it was delicious I took it out and went and sat on church steps to eat and watched some nutty group on a tour. They got drunk on wine and everyone near me was annoyed as people were enjoying a nice evening out or some were reading. So some people actually got up and walked away the group was most annoying.

Tuesday

I was in bed by 9.30 had a bit of sherry and passed out slept till 7.30. breki served in room roll croissant cappuccino and assorted like packaged treats I saved for later.

I walked to San Marco you could follow signs in alley ways  high up on the Wall did not notice at first, found it after taking millions of photos on the way. San Marco church beautiful outside I did go in and it was ok I have seen better, plus it was dark. I messed up here because I did not read my print out that I had brought along and missed the chance to go on top get views from above oh well, was not worth standing in line again for. I took photos of pigeons many people were posing and having them land I had one land on me but no one to take photo.I walked around the

I decided to try some pasta and lets just say its over rated I can make pasta just as good at home and I am not a cook as to what I had there the lack of sauce was amazing, oh well I tried it.

I walked and gazed and sat and people watched then back to my room to leave my coat there and my zoom lens and potty and get more water and rested a bit wound up walking back to San Marco on the other side of the canal exploring places and churches.

Windows

Wednesday

I woke up to rain during the night and then sirens and church bells started going off around 7 am I think this is warning for flood fell back to sleep kept waking up 8.30 was breki same as before but that was ok I showered and rested rain heavy so why go out. I went back to sleep and finally got up to check out 10.30.

Then the rain let up some and was not heavy I went in the church near the train and it was beautiful one of the nicest yet then I walked up and down alleys stopped in stores from rain it finally stopped around 1.

I started towards San Marco to do the vapetto # 1 back I saw Sofia Taggert and you just take it across the canal and not far like a mini gondola oarsman and all you had to stand and let me tell you rough water was hard I had to keep moving afraid I fall in but glad I did it and lived to tell the tale.

managed to snap without falling in

More looking and then on the vapetto and off I went all I can say is I am so damn sorry I did not do it on Tuesday ( I tried to get a ticket but machine did not work) as I missed so much we stopped at this church I had seen a Saluta which I had tried to find out what it was the day before and how to get over to it and the woman at tourist place did not know of course no time to get off enjoyed my tour down the canal regardless of not great weather but hindsight only brings pain.

I had to get my suitcase I left plenty of time to eat at a place I ate the night before where I had bis pasta I was going to have a yummy looking sandwich but that was not to be. I suddenly could not find my train ticket I looked through my folders 3 times was semi hysterical went to customer service in a panic I had emailed it to myself but thought lot of good that would do me but the lady let me log on to my email and said that is why we suggest sending to email.

I grabbed a sandwich nowhere as nice and sat in train and station and ate it and then got on the train to Florence. PS I found the ticket I had it all along of course  

The Moon Walk London Breast Cancer Marathon

Moon walk girls

 Last night I ran into some girls who were doing the London Moon Walk which is the breast cancer marathon they actually walks 26 miles through the night I took pics and they wanted me in a picture and they were so excited that I was from New York and taking their photos and then we exchanged emails as they took one of the group with me. It was fun.

This morning I headed over to Hyde Park where the Moon Walk was ending and ran into those still crossing the finish line or those who were heading home I applauded every time I saw a group and said well done. One woman had sat down at the end of the walk then she laid down and started shaking I got someone to call the paramedics I stayed around to see if she was ok she was she wasn’t a young one either. I got some girls in their decorated bras to pose.

Wild bras

 I walked through Belgravia and saw the apartment on Chapel St where Brian Epstein died I had a feeling I was there a very long time ago, felt familiar standing there. Also ran across the Bag of Nails where PAUL Mc and Linda met again a feeling of de javu from a long time ago.

I later went to church St Paul Convent Garden (church of the Actors) and took part of the Punch and Judy 350 year anniversary church service. The service was very festive a brass band came in playing When the Saints Come Marching in and Punch was up at the pulpit with the minister during the service.

 I bought a cod fish cake as I never had one it was pretty good and then I watched a May Pole Dance that was quite entertaining and this one little girl was so adorable I loved watching her. She was so serious trying to do all the proper steps and so tiny at times she was standing on her tip toes. I had my photo taken with some Pearlies.

London Again

Yesterday I arrived to sunshine yee haw not much sleep the guy next to me would not shut up so it was annoying after dinner he went to sleep was out cold  I slept maybe 1 1/2 hours turned out he took a sleeping pill and he was a zombie when he came too. I had to help him with his paperwork he couldn't come to read properly. When he stood up he could barely walk I had to keep him from falling over. Please explain why you would take a pill that lasts for 8 hours 3 hours before you land.

My room at the Grapevine is small and I mean small had to move the little table around to get my suitcase in but have my own toilet and shower  breki is cereal but that's fine I had cereal cocktail which means mixing up a few kinds of cereals and roll and tea.

I rested about 30 mins and then headed of to St James Park I walked it was about a mile I was trying to think where I would come in to the park but dawned on me as I got closer just where that would be. I love St James park to say the least.  When I am at the dentist being tortured I picture the park to calm me down and also at other crisis times. I was looking for the Pelicans but did not see them which is unusual I had my token photo taken on the bridge I have quite a series now.

I ran across some men feeding the squirrels and had to take photos of course It was a good day and I stopped at my local kabab place and had garlic sauce with fries I turned in at 8.30 and slept till almost 7.30 which is pretty late for me.

St James Park

never tire of St James park

My Aching sore tired body

 Yes that was me when I got home. It was a long trip I was up by 6 am so paranoid I would oversleep I had a wake up call besides my alarm.  I wanted to be down to check out and be ready for breakfast. I was way too early and had to sit awhile.  I had a decent breakfast and then headed back to the desk and grab my suitcase and headed out.I gave myself more than enough time to get to the train. I sat and waited and waited and the train did not come, there was no way I had missed it so I just sat and waited I knew even missing one I should have enough time to check in, The train finally came when the next one had been scheduled.

I got the airport and there was quite a line checking in but it went reasonably quick after that I went through security and headed for the plane. We left on time which was good and we landed early by about 25 minutes. This gave me more than enough time to catch the plane to Detroit or so I thought. I walked quite awhile again having trouble finding the terminal to go to and having to ask. Then the passport control again and security it took even longer than arriving and that was something.

Then I saw the plane was 20 minutes late which was a damn good thing as it was a very long walk to the plane as it was at the very end. Waited there while people were boarding or so I thought but NO they were going through a door and taking a bus to the plane it was Airbus 340 and way out in God's country.

I was so tired I fell asleep before we left and woke up when the they came around with drinks and after that was dinner. I ordered lamb dish but it was the ground kind and I also had a bottle of white wine the dinner was pretty good. I dozed off some more. I watched The Help on the little screen and bits and pieces of other things dozing off at times.

We arrived almost an hour late but luckily still had over 2 hours to my flight. I got there very easy and we got on the plane early. Almost home or so I thought.  We sat and sat on the plane and then FINALLY the pilot said there was a problem with a piece of equipment which was a security feature and were still trying to track a part down. They knew this before we got on the plane. He finally announced found it but it was ways away and they had to bring it which would be about another 30 mins, Then he said the 9 pm flight was cancelled and they would put those people on our plane. We finally pulled back as the snow started whirling in.  Then came the announcement because of the temp just being at freezing we had to de-ice and that takes about 20 mins and there were planes ahead of us. Turns out  there were 2 so we waited.  It did take awhile and when we finally took off we should already have landed in Buffalo. They did announce the actual flight time is 41 minutes and in the end took 37 so we landed an hour and 15 mins late.

I was so beat and sore and my toe was really starting to bother me was so happy to get home have a hot bath and rest my weary body since I had to work in the morning I was in bed by 11.30.

Santa arrives

Bioparc Fuengirola Zooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

I went to the Fuengirola Zoo And Biopark and have to say it was incredible I saw so many animals, that I had never seen. To quote "You won't find miserable animals pacing up and down shoe-box cages, clinging to solitary branches"

The train ride was an experience one guy was wearing a tux obvious he had been out all night partying as the last trains leave Malaga at 10.20 pm. He kept trying to doze off but someone kept calling his mobile and it has a loud telephone ring. He would look and then go back to dozing he must have gotten a dozen calls someone must have been "pranking" him. While I was waiting for the train there was a man on the other side and he realized the train direction he wanted was on my side and he ran to the edge of the track like he was going to jump on the track and attempt to cross over. YIKES finally someone convinced him that he had to go down the stairs and around and he was not HAPPY.

I was there by about 11 am it as open despite it being New Years it was open Christmas Day too. I had not seen took a few zillion photos watched the bird-mammel show and twice the bird flying wings touched my head. The animals were cute and would come do their part and leave so amazing they can be trained including some otters. They were so damn cute the photos blurred too bad as they looked cute one looked like he was laughing.

A highlight was the trip to Lemur Monkey Island I saw different lemurs had no idea there were 4 kinds and it all up close you went "over" and walked around they were I almost missed this and saw the area by chance. I should have looked better at my map. They were all cute and some started lounging around you had to be there. There was a white tiger was so close behind glass /bulletproof glass where he had a large area to roam but if someone upset him he would jump up like an attack. I enjoyed watching children experience this, being so close like they were touching them it caused much excitement.

Colobus Monkey

Blue Pigeon

One "room" had these blue colored birds and you know me and blue, I looked to see what they were and they were some sort of pigeon never saw a pigeon like that. Some people were taking photos of something up high I did too though wasn't sure what it was turned out to be bats.  I could go on and on just ask my camera it is probably about the best zoo I have been to and I have been to quite a few. I was there about 4 hours so I really took it all in. After that I walked down to the Med sea to walk along it and enjoy it for the last time. I found a place Picadilly Inn and ordered some fish and chips and just sat and relaxed. The server was from England (the owner too) and wasn't hard on the eyes and he said Thanks love when I paid him. After that walked a bit more and found and internet place. I was truly exhausted and decided it was time to head back to Torry for my final night. I had a 40 minute nap and got up and got most of my packing done. I then went and had dinner a nice Irish woman Alma I met before came and sat with me we had a great chat and enjoyed it so much I stayed up later than I planned. We exchanged addresses it was a good final night.

Lemurs

eye of the tiger

Yup I stand up

Do the Hippo Shake

Lickin good

New Years Eve we partied

Last night party was a blast we had lobster, shrimp, steak all sorts of wines and I sat with a couple originally from Scotland and others a man from Gibraltar and a woman from Ireland. Further down the table another couple had a woman looked so much like Julian Lennon (John just what were you up to) and found out she was from near Manchester. The couple from Scotland were lovely and I chatted quite a bit with the woman her name was Ann. The woman across from us could not believe we did not know each other before, as we were yakking away as old friends.

Lobster Salad

This was sooooo good

We were served creamy pumpkin soup , there was a pansy in it (and yes I ate it) and then we got the lobster Salad which turned out to be half a lobster with King prawns and salad. Followed by a choice of Sirloin Steak with truffle sauce and mushrooms and then choice of side dishes grilled potatoes with thyme wild rice sauteed vegetables. There was plenty of bottles of wine, like the Christmas luncheon. We ate and chatted and then went up for the cakes which we beautiful to look at but personally I preferred the Christmas Luncheon cakes because there were more chocolates. What can I say I LOVE chocolate.

The desserts were good but Christmas was better I asked the one in charge a Manager if he works every day since I saw him every day I was there and he said yes oh he hugged me and wished me happy new year and my Scottish friend said I saw you chatting that man up.

Around 11.15 were all handed a bag of festive goodies hats and horns streamers and grapes you are suppose to eat one grapè as the clock hits midnight and chimes 12 times I tried but could not. All of us stood watching the countdown on telly and everyone was having a good time some Spanish woman at a table were using the horns to form a band. They were doing dances and kicking up their heals. We all were practicing for midnight and waiting and then finally we all counted down in Spanish.

It was fun and we were all hugging and kissing at my table two kisses one each cheek this was done between 6 of us who were sitting together and chatting. Some people at another table were quite wild and someone smashed a glass and did not attempt to clean up or report it so we did.

There was a band who played after and so many Spanish woman got up to dance. I got loads of videos and photos and lots of laughs. Then we all hugged when we said goodbye I started to head up at one am but then decided to watch people dance awhile. Some of them were pretty good mostly woman dancing in pairs or groups there was one that really looked rather like some creature but boy could she dance. I finally left at 1.45 despite wanting to stay more just made no sense to.