Originally posted on June 29, 2012 by Canicus

From Dallas to Venice

There are actually seven days marked on my calendar as “transfer.” 28-29 June are the first two. Up at 5am in Dallas to catch a 7am SuperShuttle ride to DFW. While waiting for my US Airways plane to Philadelphia, CNN reported that the Supreme Court had overturned the “individual mandate.” Apparently, they didn’t read carefully because soon they were reporting a “correction” – the court had upheld the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in its entirety.

This is the first time I’ve flown US Airways. So I don’t know if this is now universal, but they are charging extra for all sorts of stuff: to watch the dumb movies, to have earphones to listen to the dumb movies, meals on domestic flights, wine on all flights…. Transferred to a flight to Rome at Philadelphia. Arrived at Funicino at 9am. I don’t remember Rome being so humid last year. Why is it that my bags are always the last to be put on the carrousel? It was easy to get from British Airways to the Leonardo Express; not so from U.S. Airways. No one seemed to know where the train station was; and all the up escalators seemed to be down.

I eventually got to Rome Termini railroad station in plenty of time to grab a bite to eat and catch the train to Bologna. Trains in Europe are a great way to get around. For most of this leg of the trip I nearly had a car to myself. But at the last stop before Bologna it filled up. At Bologna I had the worst experience with EuRail ever. I had a half hour to make the transfer to the train to Venice. But they did not announce the platform where the train was leaving until 5 minutes before it departed. And, as it turned out, I was about as far from the platform as possible. I got to the platform about a minute before it departed, but I was at coach 5 (and my coach was coach 2). So I battled my way through coaches 5, 4 and 3 with my luggage, only to find coach 2 packed (so nowhere to stash baggage) and someone in my reserved seat. They did move.

Anyway, I’ve arrived in Venice, where it does seem a bit cooler. I’ve checked into my hotel a short walk from the train station. I had a light supper. And am filing my first travelogue to the blog.

For photos, visit the photo slideshow

Canicus Modius

Venice, Italy

29 June 2o12