|
Getting to Europe |
September 3-4
Well, we're off; but our journey begins on a strange note,
at 5 a.m. At the airport I miss a turn, but manage
to find the right terminal on the third go-around.
The first stop is in Salt Lake City; then after a two-hour
wait, it's off to New York.
Sacramento Airport
Salt Lake City
By random luck, my tickets are "TSA Pre-Check", which means that I get shorter waiting lines and don't need to remove my shoes. At the international border, however, my special privileges run out; I must go through the security lines along with everyone else.
The New York City Airport is nothing special, and we have to walk a long way
The third flight will be eight hours long. Having little control over seating for this one, I end up with an aisle seat while Dave is caught "in the middle". Before boarding, I give him a play problem from last Friday's bridge game, then offer to swap seats after dinner should he solve it. He does so even before we leave the ground. After dinner, when Dave heads to the restroom, I dutifully make the switch. It really doesn't matter where I sit anyway; for my legs are going to ache regardless.
The best feature of JFK
Milan is nine hours ahead of Sacramento. Arriving there at 11 a.m,
it takes a good hour to walk across the airport and retrieve our luggage.
My attempt to acquire some cash from an ATM is thwarted, because I foolishly
neglected to bring a debit card. A shuttle bus takes us to the railroad
station, where we must watch the pigeons frolic for an extra hour because of
our delay at the airport.
Milan Railroad Station
It's a wonder that she can even walk
Believe it or not, this is my first-ever train ride, and it should put us in Venice by late afternoon.
On the bus
After walking half a mile to our hotel, we decide to pay an evening visit to the waterfront island.
Crossing the Grand Canal
St. Mark's Basilica — a highly popular attraction in the daytime
There are two orchestras playing in the big square
§: Well, that was an interesting 5-mile walk, but it will be better
in the daylight of tomorrow.
