Day 4 - Venice

Awoke to the gloom of a foggy Venice morning but shortly thereafter the mist rose sufficiently to see the tower of St Mark's in the distance.

Venice never fails to impress. Last time that I was here there was a foot of snow on he ground but that is another very long story for another time.

The sounds of the musical show were indeed still ringing in my head, or maybe that was just my ears ringing as we joined the by now mandatory queue of gently complaining people to board the water bus to the city. Twenty minutes later we were delivered just four bridges away from the Piazza San Marco where even if you could afford the coffee, getting in was difficult due to the entire population of Japan being there already. Oh, that and they were making a movie. In Italian, with grumpy German production assistants. "Action" came the cry followed by "CUT!" as a party of Thomson Majesty dodderers stumbled across the scene - marvellous.

A short walk away the crowds thinned and we were able to lunch at "Le Chat qui Rit" - presumably the cat is guffawing at the amount of money charged for a brandy (for Daddy Bear) and a cappuccino. Emboldened with our purchase, we continued to order some rather delicious pasta (well, it is Italy) and accompanying creme caramels.

Cafe hopping back to pier 4, our three hours ashore was over all to soon and it was back to the ship - sailing early today for the journey to Split where the sun is promised. That and another bike run, talcum at the ready. However, that is tomorrow.

So, the afternoon was spent on the top deck, successfully resisting the charms of the bar and having a chat to my showgirl at home who is enjoying rather less temperate weather. An evening of moderation tonight as the initial flush of over consumption has settled down. Darkness falls as we sail from the Lagoon.

There, nothing controversial today - disappointing huh? 

Day 3

Well, my legs survived the 26 mile bike run easily today. The chaffing in the nether regions however makes me truly glad that we have a day walking around Venezia tomorrow.

Daddy Bear attended functions at various bars around the ship today as I slowly eroded the flesh from the insides of my (very) upper thighs. However, the Slovenian countryside through which the cycles ran was resplendent with dark black grapes on the vine and tomatoes growing in the open air - in September - that's just wrong.

This evening we attended "Le Bistro", the high class restaurant with a truly decent attempt at haute cuisine. We managed to ruin a romantic 40th wedding anniversary, a 30th and a 62nd Birthday regaling the assemblage with stories of haggis and heather. The 62nd was his own fault as he admitted to being a glider pilot - who, quite incidentally, assumed a horizontal orientation on his bike in front of me earlier in the day. Obviously not used to human powered transportation.

Highlights of the day included a much deserved spinach Burek in Piran(a) and a chorus of "Don't stop Believing" during tonight's musical. I will now be up half the night watching episodes of Glee. How poignant the Bridge of Sighs will be in the morning. Ah, the regrets. I should have been with a showgirl. Oh, wait, maybe I am - I must find out when I go home.

Au revoir (until tomorrow).

And so to bed (at last).

A day of queues.

The queue to get on the aeroplane - where the cabin service was  excellent. Thomson Fly really still know how to look after their guests. This is cabin service like it used to be - before Easyjet and before Ryanair and all that they have done to ruin the experience. This is like British Airways used to be except that the cabin crew are cheerful and at least appear to enjoy what they are doing.

The great wait at Corfu (International - although you wouldn't know it) for the bags. So many bags. bag after bag after bag - none of them mine or Daddy Bear's. Until ...... at last ....maybe.....yes.....it is our bags.

Then, courtesy of Thomson and yes, they were courteous, the queue to check in for the Thomson Majesty which took an hour....although Cheryl, the dancer, helped....by being so cute.

Finally, Daddy Bear and I made our way to our cabin to find our luxurious ...... double bed .....er, No.

Lyndon, our delightful cabin attendant sprung into action and re-configured the cabin into a spacious twin with at least twice the distance from the snoring one as last year.

A night of contrasts. Mainly the contrast between the British "entertaiment" team (Hi-De-Hi) and the Fillippino professional singers. The contrast is great indeed.
Also, the great contrast between the service provided by the Eastern European girls and the rest of humanity - a gulf of great magnitude.

And so, to bed. This cruising game is exhausting.

To Ylenya, to Madonna, to Sri the Indonesian Lassie - I am in love with them all - xxx.

P.S. Daddy Bear is snoring already.

... and so to bed.

The day ends as the mission starts. Up early to feed the five thousand and then the taxi will collect us at 05:15. Us being my Dad who is 88 in the morning and myself. Having sworn that I would "never do this again",here I am not only doing it again but looking forward to it. Let's see what tomorrow brings.