Arcadia cruise to Adriatic 2017 - part 8

Wednesday 30 September – Split

Weather 2/8 cloud, easterly Force 2, 20°C

 

Our final Adriatic port today and the only place on this cruise that I hadn't been to before - Split. This is a tender port and the water looked a little choppy but the decision was made to run the tenders - hooray! I had seen Split in that wonderful TV series, Mediterranean Voyage: A cultural Journey through the Mediterranean from Venice to Istanbul by Franceso Da Mosto, and had wanted to visit since then.

 

 

 

Once ashore we headed straight for the old town and Diocletian's Palace, not that you could really miss it as it is right on the waterfront! Once on the promenade we turned right and round the old walls to the open air markets selling flowers, souvenirs and bric a brac. 

 

 

Then we walked into the old part of the Palace, wandering the narrow flagged lanes. The only downside, from my point of view, were the many steps!

 

Steps I could manage but there were no handrails and with my new knee I wasn't going to risk a fall so after a couple of hours, we worked way back to the seafront and had a glass of nice cold local beer - note to self - must remember to pack insect bite stuff!

 

After our refreshments I left Caryll to go to the cathedral while I wandered past the seafront stalls and shops. At the end I found a pretty, small square and more shops after which I made my way back to the tender drop.

 

 

It was a very long queue and the tide had dropped, leaving an extremely long step down into the tender. Since my knee would not yet bend beyond 90 degrees it meant I had to step down with that leg and hope! Fortunately P&O crew are good at catching passengers! Once back on board I grabbed a bite to eat and sat out until the sun clouded over somewhat.

 

It was a quiet sail away, then time to change for dinner,  cocktails and after dinner - the quiz where we came third.

Arcadia cruise to Adriatic 2015 - part 7

Tuesday 29 September – Venice

Weather 2/8 cloud, easterly Force 5, 20°C

We were both up on deck for our arrival at 7am. The sail into Venice is one of the best in the world and despite, me having experienced it twice before, I wasn’t going to miss this magical site as the city unfolds before you, sailing right past the Doges Palace and St Mark’s Square. It was a perfect morning weather wise and the buildings were bathed in the golden glow of the sunrise.

 

 

As we berthed in the modern cruise terminal, I had a quick breakfast and then got ready for my tour to Murano and Burano. I have at home an original painting by Deborah Jones of Burano. This was bought by my parents direct from the artist in the 1960s or 70s and ever since I have wished to visit there. We boarded the boat from Arcadia’s tendering pontoon and then had a half hour motor across the Venetian Lagoon to Murano.

This is a series of seven islands, linked by bridges and is the centre of Venetian glassmaking. The boat moored eventually (the wind made it very difficult) at the landing stage of one of the factories and we were taken in to watch a coloured glass vase being blown. I have to admit it was an amazing sight to see a big blob of molten glass gradually take on a fluted and beautiful form.

 

We walked out through the factory shop (I bought a pair of earrings) to the Grand Canal of Murano where I took some photos before heading back to our boat.

 

It was another half an hour ride to the smaller island group of Burano, famed for its hand-made lace. We had an hour and a half here to wander at will. Although I couldn’t find the exact location of my painting, I was charmed by this pretty mini-Venice with the brightly coloured houses.

 

 

We re-boarded our boat for the run back through the lagoon to the port. We had to get off this time at the proper landing stage and it is a very long trek back through the terminal buildings and along the airbridge to the ship. There was also an NCL ship in by now so the area was heaving with people. I was not best pleased when my knee set off the alarms again! But then being checked over by a nice Italian immigration officer was compensation – when I said it was probably my knee he said yes, of course! Not sure why this keeps happening though as my left half-knee replacement never set things off.
 

I was back on board in time for a sandwich at teatime and then went up to deck 10 for the sail back down the Guidecca Canal, again with buildings bathed in a golden setting sun. We had our complimentary Champagne whilst watching this stunning sight. A perfect day in fact.