| Venice, Italy |
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| Written by Keith Rhoades | |
| Thursday, 08 October 2009 | |
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I am in Venice Italy this morning...it is about 10:30 AM here...having a cappacino in a cafe along the canal. So the internet time is much cheaper than on the wireless on the boat. First, thank you to those who have sent personal little emails and shout outs....makes me feel happy and still connected to back home. I believe I left off in Dubrovnik Port. I got back on the ship and we sailed out of Port. We went to dinner. Those of you who have cruised know you get assigned to a table and its always a gamble who you sit with. Fortunately two of our table mates are very cool. Sandra and Tracy a mother and daughter. Sandra marched with MLK in the 60's and it has been fascinating to talk to her about civil rights, the progression of human rights, as she grew up in the segregated south...and here she is on cruise in Europe. It always amazes me all the stories each individual has to tell and how all those stories interweave and cross paths to form one moment in time. And then paths leave and the journey continues...but for a minute you sahred and experience. But I digress....After dinner Craig and I went to the show on ship. After the show a bout 11 pm we met up with Tracy and Sandra and went to a jazz and blues show on board. We actually got to bed at a relatively decent time of 1 am. Wednesday we both woke up about 8 am and Craig wanted to take a spin class on the ship as he had never taken spin. I went with and it was an awesome experience After spin class we cleaned up and headed out on deck. There is a giant screen TV on the top deck where they broadcasted a Pavarotti concert as we sailed intot the port of Venice. It is a long and difficult port to get into but probably one of the most dramatic entries into a port...with O Sole Mio blaring on the deck as you pass by the numerous islands of Venice and the canals and cathedrals. We finally docked about noon. Craig and I got off the ship and it was about 15 minute walk to the main area....we walked and wandered for hours to shops and canals, back streets and to the Rialto Bridge. Then to St. Marks Cathedral and square. We stopped at a cafe and and a pizza and headed back to ship. As fabulous as all this sounds it was also a sad day at heart....I remember the last time I was in Venice...nearly 10 years ago and I couldnt help but reflect on all that has happened since....I began to focus on I was younger, stronger, healthier then. I missed my dad for some reason yesterday and then got lost in the fears of the future....what is going to happen to me...will I die alone...will I ever really truly know love. I am really begining to realize how much I run and escape from truly just being present and with myself. With all that said I thought to myself What is wrong with you...you are on a cruise in Venice and you feel sad. But the truth is....it is just feelings and that is how I felt. It was really a hard time. I talked to Craig about and came to find out he was feeling the exact same way. We went to dinner and then talked some more. We laughed and cried. It was now already 11 pm and we decided to go for a midnight walk around Venice.... It was dead out...we were the only two walking through certain parts of the canals and there was a hazy fog out and the pavement shined like silver gray cobblestones. Now...I learned something about Craig that I didnt know....he is obsessed with Les Miserable as much as I am and he didnt know I could sing every single line to that musical. So we walked the canals of venice at 2 am in the dark singing the entire selections from Les Miserables....and we laughed so much and had to poke fun that the best memory of venice would be walking around in the middle of the night singing les miserable. WE got back to the ship at 2 am. I woke up at 8 and he was still sleeping so I thought I would just walk back into town have some coffee and catch up on internet time. So later today we set sail...tomorrow is a day at sea and then Saturday we will be in Messina Sicily....where my main goal is to see Mt. Etna. It has been a great trip....when I back pack around solo I usually have a deeper connection to my emotional and spiritual self and I didnt think the cruise would afford me that luxury but it has...and thankfully I am with someone that is similar and understands and accepts all my flaws and good traits. |
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