Sabbatical Journal: 15. Venice and Back, the Lake Poets and Other Activities

Tuesday 18 February. Finished read through again. Pick up Tara and Pasqual at Gatwick, 9:16 a.m. arrival.

Wednesday 19 February. To London with Cathy, Tara and Pasqual. Sambuca's for lunch. Cathy and I to "A Swell Party" (Cole Porter play) and Tara and Pasqual to "Miss Saigon." Returned on the 11 p.m. train, but had to change at Bishop's Stortford!

Thursday 20 February. Finalizing work on book. Dinner at Nemonthron.

Friday 21 February. Drive Tara, Pasqual and Cathy to Milton Keynes for train to Chester and weekend trip to Wales. Listened to BBC 1 on the way back, live from New York, occasionally patching in London and LA. Amazing technology!

Saturday 22 February. Took Robert to school and picked him up at noon. School is now out for half term break. In the evening to Cambridge for pizza and a movie with the children.

Sunday 23 February. Pick up Cathy, Tara and Pasqual at Stanstead.

Monday 24 February. Send in book with reading fee to Scott Meredith Agency. Sunrise, 6:58; sunset 5:31.

Tuesday 25 February. Months ago, our dear friends and Thomas' godparents, Tara and Pasquale, invited us to Venice with them to attend Carnivale. So it is that on a frosty morning we leave the house, six Buckleys and Tara and Pasqual, in two cabs, at 5:20 a.m. for the train station. We miss the 6 a.m. train but catch the 6:30 and arrive in plenty of time for the 8:45 Victoria train to Dover, where we are bussed to the eastern docks. A relaxing ferry crossing (SeaLink) to Calais does not prepare us for the complications of making our connection, and we almost miss the train to Paris. We arrive in Paris at 5:49. French train travel is tres comfortable compared to BritRail! We have steak frites dinner (with mousse) at Gare du Nord before boarding the eight o'clock sleeper to Venice. Our accommodations are a six person couchette: triple bunks on each side of the compartment. There are a lot of parties on board. I sleep remarkably well in a sheet like a sleeping bag.

Wednesday, 26 February. Venice is BEAUTIFUL! We arrive around nine o'clock and board a water taxi, which drops us off a short distance from our hotel, the Ala. We eat lunch at La Raffaela at noon, with lots of red wine. Tara says the red wine in Italy never affects you. We then go to St. Mark's for coffee. I have a scotch. Everyone else goes back to the hotel. Pasqual and I then go to Harry's Bar. I remember three old fashions, but nothing after that!