After many hours in the British Airlines Lounge in Terminal 5, Heathrow, our flight to Venice finally boarded. Originally scheduled for an 8:55am flight, we were rescheduled to a 2:10pm flight which was delayed another hour and a half. Finally, we were on the plane at 3:40 in the afternoon.
Only two more hours and we would be in the Marco Polo Airport. Wishful thinking; after boarding the plane we sat on the tarmac for another hour waiting for permission to takeoff.
We were finally airborne and on our way only to experience a luggage handlers’ slowdown. Another hour and a half and we had our luggage. We were met by a pleasant, young lady who escorted us to a waiting water taxi and we were swiftly on our way to the Hotel Danieli, where we were to meet our traveling companions. Unfortunately, they had cocktails and dinner, starting at 6pm, and we arrived at about 9:30pm, well after dinner ended. No one met us and we were on our own.
We had a throughly enjoyable dinner in the hotel bistro and then it was off to bed for us.
The best laid plans of mice and men often go astray. Our plans, subject to headwinds and the like, had us arriving at 12:30pm. We were going to stroll around the city, take in the sights and meet with our companions at 6 o’clock. Not to happen; we arrived nine hours late and only saw the inside of the hotel.