Limo ride in Venice

When you arrive in a new city you inevitably have to run the gauntlet of driving from the airport to your hotel.  You know, you lug your bags to the taxi rank, jostle to the head of the queue, pile in and then watch as the driver navigates through unfamiliar streets and somehow pops up in front of your hotel.  We were looking forward to Venice because the agent had organized a limo, so no fighting for a cab.

When we landed at Marco Polo airport there was Alex waiting with our name scrawled incorrectly on his white board.  Off we went following Alex along the walkway right past the taxi rank and down to the water’s edge.  

We had to wait a time as our flight arrived late.  So Alex shouted us a coffee as we had no Euro.  Then up pulled our private ride, a highly polished wooden motor launch just like those used in the old movies in the 50s. 

Sitting is our plush upholstered seats we enjoyed our own guided tour of Venice complete with commentary from Alex as we were ferried to the hotel.  We traveled up through the quiet back canals, passing small squares, under quaint footbridges and finally on to our magnificent hotel Europa on the Grand Canal – a fantastic and breathtaking introduction to Venice.