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We set the alarms for 7, but that wound up being too early. We returned to packing suitcases, taking a break for breakfast. We finished the packing and still had about two hours until the water taxi was due to pick us up, so we took a final walk around this area.
The photo above shows our hotel during our stay in Venice. The red and white poles made it easy to find. The awning is over the main entrance.
We finally went back to the hotel to grab our carry-ons and to get the bellman to bring our larger suitcases up to the lobby. We saw him take the suitcases through the lobby and past the room where they usually hold luggage. He took them down the hall and around the corner. Where were they going???
Our escort soon arrived - he's the liaison between us and the water taxi driver. The taxi was running late - Venice was experiencing a higher than normal high tide and he couldn't get under the bridge he needed to get under! We asked the front desk clerk to have our luggage brought to us. The desk clerk called the bellman to bring the suitcases. The bellman soon arrived, without the suitcases, looking completely confused. Were the suitcases still in our room? No, you picked them up an hour ago.
After researching the storage room, the bellman asked Carl to come into the storage room to identify them. Well, he didn't take them in there. After several minutes of searching, we finally got the English speaking front desk clerk involved and told him what we had watched earlier - down the hall and around the corner. He went through the breakfast area (not around the corner) and the two of them soon returned with our bags - nice and warm from sitting in the sun on the enclosed patio!!! Now, how can you lose luggage in the hotel lobby???
Oh, well. The taxi finally arrived and we loaded up. The ride to the airport was uneventful, but the escort that was supposed to meet us there and make sure we got to the correct ticket counter never showed up. The airport has really changed in the last five years.
Last time I was in Venice, I got off the water taxi, walked a few feet and I was at the counter. Now, the terminal is close to half a mile from the taxi dock. We had a nice long walk, only to find that the line inside for the Delta counter was very long. It took us an hour to check-in.
And my suitcase was overweight by about three pounds. I paid the fine (those books can get heavy) and we continued to the next line, which was security. The next line was in the lady's room, then another line for passport control. We finally arrived in the gate area.
Carl bought a very dry sandwich and a bottle of water, which we shared for lunch. The rest of the flight home was uneventful.