Today’s Schedule
Breakfast: On board.
Morning: Today's itinerary starts with a relaxing morning cruising across the Venetian Lagoon to towards the historic fishing port of Chioggia.
Lunch: On board.
Afternoon: This afternoon we arrive in Chioggia, a Venice in miniature with it's canals, bridges and narrow streets, and a well known fishing community. On a guided walk with a local expert we discover 'Le vie del pesce" - the fish route and fish market to learning a secret or two from local fishermen (knot typing with rope). Later a coach transfer is provided from Chioggia to Taglia di Po, arriving by 7pm.
Dinner: On board.
Evening: This evening we cruise along the river Po to the next port of call.
Lodging: CroisiEurope MS Michelangelo
My Observations
The daily schedules developed by Paola & Thomas, and drawn by Thomas are informative & entertaining. If you review the wording on the schedule, you might ponder the request – bring your ears...? This refers to the electronic listening device we have plugged into a receiver with headphones for us to hear all the guides are speaking into a microphone. I helps them communicate with us, wondering – am I heard by all? At times, some guides on prior tours referred to the devices as – whispers. This allowed the guides to speak softly in places where you were not allowed to speak in a loud voice. Very innovative and helpful.
http://www.centrumsound.com/TGS_737_TGS737_PRO.html
Chioggia, described to us as a fishing “village.” When getting off the bus and looking around, found it a lot more interesting, and a lot larger than imagined. We were told there are 13 churches just along the main street. Too many you think? Maybe not, if each neighborhood provides support as they seem to do. We also saw many signs, then tables and chairs for use during the seafood festival that was going on during the evenings this week.
http://www.italyheaven.co.uk/veneto/chioggia.html
We also notice pasted paper posters on some of the walls. Some as a memorial to those who recently died. The posters included many personal details of the person who has moved on to the nether world. For those who are alive, and just graduated from university, there are also posters. These though, have hand drawn sketches similar to what Thomas provides on a daily basis. These too have personal details – most embarrassing and risqué as provided by family and friends. They are not meant to embarrass, but to remind those shown on the poster to remember where they came from. From humble beginnings, they need not forget the family and friends who remember them before the success of a hard earned and respected education might go to their head.
http://dying.lovetoknow.com/Italian_Funeral_Traditions
http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Europe/Italy/Veneto/Padova-146843/Local_Customs-Padova-TG-C-2.html
https://www.ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/read/articles/playful-padua
At some point, because of the hot day, temp around 100, Thomas suggests we all have gelato – his treat. A welcomed request by all. Many flavors that seem to not be found at other places we have visited.
http://www.italoamericano.org/story/2015-4-27/gelato
We move on, and go to waters edge and have a request for 3 young ladies to board a small fisherman's boat. The sailor, looks more like a pirate, and he powers the boat by paddle power. As the girls leave, I think, will they be returned to us? Will we have to pay ransom? It was a fun experience for the girls and a chance to learn more about how the life blood of employment for Chioggia – fishing. They still rely on fishing that for centuries fed families and paid bills.
We then adjourn to a nearby school, where we find the “pirate” had changed into a teacher of fisherman rope skills. The sailor will now provide some instruction and rope pieces for all of us to try to tie the knots important to those who sail and fish. A great time and appreciation of “tying the knot.” Just as difficult as the wedding day versus the length of a marriage.
We move from the school to a snack shop to have cool refreshments to drink and some cookies. We get a bus ride back in time for dinner on the boat and view a other beautiful sunset we can see though the ship windows.
Photo 1 - See. We are going to Chioggia. Part of Venice, but not an island. So cars are seen on the streets.
Photo 2 - Do. We take a short sea trip, then bus to Chioggia.
Photo 3 - Eat. Our ship chef, Adam, is able to prepare delicious and beautifully displayed food, for body and eyes.
Click here for today's online photo album.
