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3 days in Venice: BD A319 LHR-VCE-LHR

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  • 3 days in Venice: BD A319 LHR-VCE-LHR

    Introduction

    It's been a busy June and I have just returned from trips to:
    1. New York ( SIN-EWR-SIN by A345 ),
    2. London ( JFK-LHR-JFK by BA 744 ) and
    3. Venice ( LHR-VCE-LHR by BD A319 ).

    To be more accurate, I flew SIN-EWR, JFK-LHR, LHR-VCE-LHR, LHR-JFK and EWR-SIN.

    But it's easier to write 3 separate TRs.

    And in order of my enthusiasm, it will be:

    1. Venice
    2. London
    3. New York
    Last edited by 9V-SIA; 26 June 2009, 11:22 AM.

  • #2
    Check in at LHR T1

    Would you believe it, this is the first time I actually used this contraption!
    Usually I opt for the warmth of human contact, but in this case, there was no option.
    I must say that it was very easy. Once checked in, I dropped off my 22" bag.
    I wish I could have carried it on board but I carry a Swiss Army knife whenever I travel.



    BMI Number One Heathrow

    I would normally explore the public areas of a terminal I have not used before.
    But T1 looks horribly crowded so I proceeded to the lounge.
    BMI International Lounge is located above Gate 5. It puts SQ lounges to shame. Only 2 weeks old when I visited..



    The Entrance



    The distinctive 2 semi circle buffet counters, looking back at the entrance:





    Cafe Style seating. Entrance to the left of picture. The 2 sweetest Lounge Dragons you could meet.



    Beyond the "Cafe", the Lounge



    You can see the glassed off study ( aka computer room ) to the right of the Cafe and Lounge. Free internet.
    Last edited by 9V-SIA; 24 June 2009, 08:25 PM.

    Comment


    • #3
      Looking from the buffet to the runway, a long table you can opt to eat at instead of the cafe tables.
      Also you can sit counter style around the buffet to be close to the food
      You can see a reflection of that in my Aga shot
      We sat behind the blue curtain to the right. That's my son's head shot there



      The Front Room facing the runway. Look at that view!!
      Changi T3 lurkers take note. This is the view a premium lounge must have.



      With my back facing the runway, managed a shot of The Front Room.
      Hard shot as most PAXs were crowded around here..



      The "Local", by the window



      The Aga. I love this part of the decor. Very distinctive look and homey feel.
      Counter seating reflected in the mirror!



      My ride to Venice. BMI A319.

      Last edited by 9V-SIA; 24 June 2009, 08:44 PM.

      Comment


      • #4
        BD467 LHR-VCE Seat 1F


        We left the gate on time despite the shambles called boarding.
        The flight was full. But full of what?! Pensioners it seems. There was no queue. Just a rush to get on board.
        I don't know what the hurry was. It's not like the plane would leave without them.

        View of the back.




        Legroom was adequate. But centre seat was taken.




        Push back was on schedule but we waited 30 minutes to take off.
        Meanwhile, I had a great view of a procession of aircraft passing by










        Finally, it was time to go...




        Shortly after take off, we fly over this airfield.
        There's what looks like a race track, and at the bottom right corner, an aircraft museum?
        Looks like a Concorde parked there. Can anyone tell me where this is?

        Last edited by 9V-SIA; 24 June 2009, 10:18 PM.

        Comment


        • #5
          Lunch Time on BD: Shock and Ow!

          Once airborne and above the clouds ( and it was overcast all the way ), I studied the menu.
          I was surprised that lunch would not be complimentary
          ( considering how much I paid for the ticket, Y fare )

          Bear in mind too, I'm used to flying almost exclusively on SQ,
          so my expectations for a 2 hour flight around lunch time on SQ.
          Being realistic, I tempered my expectations but...





          My first time having to pay for a meal on a plane!
          ( I won't rant about LCCs ruining the "Romance of Travel" in this TR )




          I selected from the "Meal Deals" menu.




          Remember to bring your BMI Card!




          My lunch, cheaper to pay in GBP than EUR.



          They give you a plastic bag to put your rubbish in.




          Nice view of Venice on the approach to Marco Polo airport.
          After this shot, I was asked to switch off my camera.
          First time it's happen to me though I've read about it elsewhere.

          Last edited by 9V-SIA; 25 June 2009, 01:03 PM.

          Comment


          • #6
            Arrival Hall

            We got off the plane fairly quickly but were held up at the Baggage Hall.
            There was a notice up to the effect that the delay in baggage delivery was the fault of the ground handlers not the airline.
            And any complaint should be directed to the airport management.

            Airport to Hotel Cavalletto

            Land and sea transfers to Venice are located outside the airport.
            The sea transfers were a 5 minute walk from the terminal via a covered walkway.
            This being summer, I was drenched in sweat by the time I got to our water taxi,
            which was suppose to take us to the hotel door step...




            Cooled down pretty fast on the ride to the hotel!
            This is the "open water" part of the ride.
            Can get bumpy when other boats pass.
            Splashy at the front. Hope my LX3 doesn't rust!




            Cut through Cannaregio ward on way to the Grand Canal.




            Soon we pass under the Rialto Bridge, with it's many restaurants on either side of the bank.
            Boat Quay is a poor comparison but kinda like that, Venetian style.
            What an introduction to Venice!




            Hmmm... Boeing fan in Airbus territory?!




            Then a left turn......




            ...to wind our way to Hotel Cavalletto, where I stayed on my previous trip to Venice...in 1969.




            I'd hoped for the same dramatic entrance that I remember from my childhood but it was not to be.
            The canal in front of the hotel was jammed with gondolas so we had to detour.
            I took this shot the next morning. Early in the morning was best time to take pics,
            not just for better lighting but avoiding people spoiling the shot.




            A short walk and we enter on the landside of the hotel.
            Beyond the bridge and archway is St Mark's Square. Very central location indeed.
            Luckily, we got the dramatic waterside departure when time came to leave...

            Last edited by 9V-SIA; 25 June 2009, 09:30 PM.

            Comment


            • #7
              Hotel Cavalletto


              The Reception. Waterside entrance straight ahead. Walk past reception, turn left to...




              ...The Bar, fronting the canal ( and Hard Rock Cafe across the canal )







              The Lobby seating to right of waterside entrance. Free internet in Lobby.
              Bright room beyond is restaurant where we had our buffet breakfast ( comp ).




              Sorry but I love the room key...




              The rooms I would describe as small....




              ...but with character. Our balcony with a view of...




              ..Campanile, the Belltower on St Mark's Square...just




              My girl's room which they adored... Again small...




              ..with character. Their bags were up the stairs on the landing! No space "downstairs"!!!




              The rooms fronting the canal are much nicer. Bigger and more plush.
              That's where my Dad and my son stayed. Sorry no pics.
              Last edited by 9V-SIA; 25 June 2009, 11:51 PM.

              Comment


              • #8
                Orientation


                If you look at a map of Venice, it looks like a big fish locking jaws with a small fish.
                The Grand Canal is formed where their jaws lock.

                My kids see 2 robot claws clenched together. Whatever!



                Venice consists 6 wards.

                5 wards over 2 islands, separated by the Grand Canal.

                West of the Grand Canal:
                San Polo
                Dorsoduro

                East of the Grand Canal:
                Cannaregio
                San Marco
                Castello
                Actually 2 small islands - St Peter and St Elena - lie to the east of Castello.

                The 6th ward is The Lagoon Islands.
                Last edited by 9V-SIA; 25 June 2009, 10:06 PM.

                Comment


                • #9
                  The Plan

                  I don't do rushed holidays, those 10 cities in 8 day deals advertised in the Straits Times.
                  Everything becomes a blur if the schedule is too fast. Sensory overload not to mention fatigue..and my age!

                  I like to take time getting to know a place. Come back another time.

                  So for this trip, we plan to explore 2 wards:

                  Tourist's Venice: San Marco, to see monuments, shop and eat

                  Venetians Venice: Castello, to see how the locals live

                  But first we gotta eat, so after checking in, we head for St Mark's Square and tea at..

                  Cafe Florian




                  My tea




                  My wife's tea




                  My kid's tea ( they slept through lunch on plane )




                  ..while soaking in the atmosphere...





                  ..marble tables, velvet upholstered chairs, polished wood, mirrors...




                  ...and music from a great orchestra

                  Last edited by 9V-SIA; 25 June 2009, 11:57 PM.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    St Mark's Square


                    Entering the Square from the Cavalletto, this is the view of the square that greets me.
                    Looking east...




                    Looking west from in front of the Basilica.
                    Hoardings get in the way of taking pics on St Mark's Square.
                    As do the vendors that come out during the day




                    Basilica di San Marco




                    The Doge's ( doe-jay ) Palace as viewed from St Mark's Basin.
                    It was a 3-in-1 building, housing his apartment ( very small for such a large building ), government and courts.
                    Across the road...er, canal is the prison linked to the courthouse by....




                    ...the Bridge of...Sisley. Sigh!
                    Accused tried in courts to the left of the bridge.
                    If found guilty, they were marched across the bridge to prison to the right.
                    A gaze through the window on the bridge is their last look at freedom...




                    The Clock Tower ( Torre dell'Orologio ),
                    heading north along the alleys of Merceria to the Rialto Bridge.

                    Last edited by 9V-SIA; 27 June 2009, 10:14 PM.

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Little bit on the 'slow' and easygoing side was June for me, so glad you're flying all around and bringing us these very nice TRs... Hope you're enjoying all these trips...

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Originally posted by 9V-SIA View Post
                        Shortly after take off, we fly over this airfield.
                        There's what looks like a race track, and at the bottom right corner, an aircraft museum?
                        Looks like a Concorde parked there. Can anyone tell me where this is?

                        That's Brooklands (www.brooklandsconcorde.com). There is a museum there and a big Mercedes Benz facility next to it with the Merecedes Benz Experience where you can drive high powered Mercs at high speed on a track, on wet circle's (that's the round thing you can see on the right hand side of the picture just above the aircraft) etc.

                        SQ took a group of us there for a PPS Do last year.

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Originally posted by 9V-SIA View Post
                          Check in at LHR T1

                          Would you believe it, this is the first time I actually used this contraption!
                          Usually I opt for the warmth of human contact, but in this case, there was no option.
                          I must say that it was very easy. Once checked in, I dropped off my 22" bag.
                          I wish I could have carried it on board but I carry a Swiss Army knife whenever I travel.
                          You risk the vagaries of baggage handling at LHR just so to bring a knife which you can get anywhere? That doesn't make sense to me.
                          ..

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Originally posted by N_Architect View Post
                            Little bit on the 'slow' and easygoing side was June for me, so glad you're flying all around and bringing us these very nice TRs... Hope you're enjoying all these trips...
                            I love to travel but this 3 week trip was tiring...

                            Originally posted by MAN Flyer View Post
                            That's Brooklands (www.brooklandsconcorde.com). There is a museum there and a big Mercedes Benz facility next to it with the Merecedes Benz Experience where you can drive high powered Mercs at high speed on a track, on wet circle's (that's the round thing you can see on the right hand side of the picture just above the aircraft) etc.

                            SQ took a group of us there for a PPS Do last year.
                            Thanks for that.

                            May pay it a visit next time I'm in London.

                            Pretty God-like treat from SQ to organize a PPS Do there.

                            Originally posted by Kiwi View Post
                            You risk the vagaries of baggage handling at LHR just so to bring a knife which you can get anywhere? That doesn't make sense to me.
                            You're absolutely right! It stops from now!

                            I was conditioned to bring a Swiss Army knife in my hand-carry because there was a time when they taped my checked-in bags so well, that I could not open it without a sharp knife. Now that the knife is in my checked-in bag there's no point.

                            Nice to have when skinning apples in the hotel room though...
                            Last edited by 9V-SIA; 25 June 2009, 11:53 PM.

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Wow, 9V-SIA, that's a ton of flights all the way across the world! Talking about going from SIN-LHR the long way around

                              Italy has somehow completely passed me by during the 14 years that I have been in England - but your TR is really making me interested in going. It all looks fantastic...

                              The LX3 seems to be doing a good job too. Looking forward to the rest

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