Arrival in Venice

We proved out the legendary theory of 6 degrees of separation as we traveled from Budapest to Venice by train – a 12 hour ride that first took us to Vienna and then south through beautiful mountainous countryside. The first half of the trip quickly passed as we shared our cabin with an Australian Mom and daughter-in-law in the grocery business and a woman economist from Israel representing a modern European furniture company. Stories of living on the same kibbutz linked the Australian daughter and the economist. Then Alan and the Israeli swapped names and stories of the Bonfman family members they knew out of Montreal. We all shared our background of working in retail. Of course, our running international commentary on the economic conditions in the States, Canada, Australia and Europe now seem quite naïve in light of what happened to world markets a few days later.

I was so excited about arriving in Venice at night. Cruising down the canal in the evening is magical. Since I was here 10 years before, and this was Alan's first visit, I was the hostess serving up a great treat for him. The San Marco basilica lit in her full majesty is breathtaking.

There is an abrupt sensory transition point when you arrive in Venice – simultaneously thrilling and bewildering. Our directions after getting off the vaporetto are to “go down the calle, turn left and go over the bridge, look for the archway and turn left by the gondoliers and continue into the courtyard.” Never the mention of a street name. We are staying 5 nights at the lovely Europa and Regina Hotel and after getting settled we go out for a late bite to eat.