Bags left outside my suite last night before turning in were gone as I took my last shower aboard Seabourn Quest and prepared to disembark. Coffee in the Observation and light breakfast in The Colonnade preceded some tearful goodbyes as I left the ship. Members of the staff were there to wish us well. Most touching -- our Captain Nielsen was at the entrance to the terminal greeting everyone of us. He would be leaving the ship as well for a short vacation.

The Quest would be sailing this afternoon with a new set of passengers bound for Monte Carlo before going into dry dock for a three-week refitting for her voyages to Antarctica in the Fall.

I was met by a guide who escorted me to my private water taxi. We were off to a series of small canals taking me to the canal entrance of my Hotel Duodo Palace. Once checked in I ventured out on foot with a map and managed several excursions out and back without getting lost. The map was very necessary and useful.

On one of my walks, I visited the Palace of the Doge, paid my 8€ and another 4€ for an audio guide and ventured into the many elaborately decorated rooms. The handset didn't coordinate well with my various locations so I gave up on it. There were huge frescos by major artists. There were also scads of people on tours so the place was quite crowded and I was glad when my walk through was finished. St Marks Plaza was very crowded as well --no hope of visiting the Basilica as the huge line was daunting.

When I left the hotel to find a place for dinner it began to rain so I ducked into the Restaurante Al Theatro next to the famous Gran Theatro La Fenice Opera House near my hotel. Then off to bed after a tiring day.