Woke up slightly seedy......wonder why? Were we actually drinking wine out of paper cups? I think I vaguely remember something about it.....the downside of being able to buy and drink alcohol anywhere here in Italy!

Challenge to pack for the flight, then close the cases......

Beautiful setting by the canal for farewell to Venice breakfast......sprinkling rain this am.

Gondoliers and water taxis busily coming and going......

We are taking the water bus to the airport....€15 each, much more economical than water taxi.

First time we've had to handle our own luggage in a while....hotel going to deliver it to the waterfront hotel for us.

I was wrong about there not being a McD here, just saw a sign advertising the only McD in Venice......

The age if chivalry is not dead......a wonderful Englishman dragged my suitcases up and over the bridge to the water bus (no ramps on these bridges remember!), what a sweetheart he was. Roger had to deal with his own!

About 1 and half hours to the airport, beautiful way to farewell unique Venice.

The water taxis are all older style polished timber boats, look really cool, in keeping with the style of the city. Haven't seen any bullet style boats here, except for the multi-million euro super yachts of course.

That the first time we have ever arrived at an airport via water.

You even pay a premium to sit and have coffee at the airport!

Pain in the butt handling your own luggage.

Lucky we have a baggage allowance of 30kgs each with Emirates (thanks again Jenny the Travel Agent).....total of 57kgs!

----------------

0100hrs and we are sitting in the Chelsea Arms English Pub, at the Sheraton Creek Hotel in Dubai.......Roger having a much needed beer and me a cuppa.

Flight went well until the plane dropped apparently 2000 or more ft......the whole plane load of passengers screamed, not had that happen before.....despite that we arrived safely.

Amazing airport, very friendly people, even given a free upgrade to 'room with a creek view'. Spectacular hotel.

Roger's thoughts on the day.......

On the ferry boat to the airport....holds about 50 people. It takes about an hourand a half by water to get to the airport - all ran smoothly thank heavens.

Pleased that young Englishman helped Eileen over the bridge with her case otherwise I would have had to take one and go back for the other (security) and they weigh 30kgs!

At the airport and finally rid of the bags, they are a real hassle and are hard work...hate to do this when we are too much older! Most of the trip they have been taken care of by someone else, very llucky.

We are here in Dubai, only just. The plane fell out of the sky, I reckon a 2 seconds air pocket and it fell about 3000 ft. They have screens on board telling you where you are all the time. Everyone screamed and we found out we are the quiet ones.....we just sat there and wondered what was going to happen next......I think if it kept going we would have just cuddled each other to the end!!