dani negreanu

+ 1 @Biker19 😉

We stayed at the Fontana hotel, excellent location, and easily accessed via the Alilaguna Blu line from the Marco Polo airport. No stairs or bridges involved, a mere 3 mins from San Zaccaria stop. Highly recommended. https://www.hotelfontana.it/en/ https://www.alilaguna.it/en/lines/linea-blu

Thank you, Renee. We have almost a month of "high holidays", starting with the New Year, 10 days after it -- Yom Kippur, which involves fasting [25 hours] and asking forgiveness from people, usually a sad day, and, in a few days, a happy holiday, which lasts 8 days, and everything shuts down - schools, government, work places. This year, for those who work, the string of holidays is very "profitable", since it involves very long week ends.... As usual, since we learn so much from one another, a small insight in the Yom Kippur's "procedure" -- G'mar Hatimah Tovah — Literally “A good signing/sealing.” This is a traditional greeting during Yom Kippur, referring to the belief that on Rosh Hashanah [New Year's Eve] our fates are written, or inscribed, in the Book of Life, and on Yom Kippur we are sealed in it.

Thank you, Graham. It is much appreciated 😘. Yom Kippur is the holiest in the Jewish calendar, but I cannot forget that a war started 49 years ago on this day... we were married less than 9 months, and my DH was called for reserve duty for 6 interminable months. His place of work were very attentive and generous to me, I received his full salary and, of course, they kept his position all this time.

As an Israeli, I had a look at the Holy Land's itineraries -- May and October are ideal for visiting here. I'd book only the May 6 and the October 15. The one starting on October 2 doesn't have an overnight in Ashdod, so not worth it at all. The other 2 dates have excellent times in Ashdod and Haifa.

Odyssey. Always prefer newer ships.

Sounds a really "bucket list" trip. Amazing itinerary. Sad the cruises are not leaving from Venice anymore, though I fully understand the reasons. We like Venice very much, just booked a few days stay during the Carnival there. Starting the golden wedding anniversary/ies year. DH wanted to go "big" and suggested the see an opera. I immediately started researching the best seats, when he turns to me and asks: "how many hours the Barber of Seville runs????" 😕 I check and reply: "3 hours".... No opera for us 🤪 We'll settle for a tour of the opera building (45 mins, La Fenice).

@Luckynana Maryann, has the weather improved? Where are you now? 😘

Walrus.

I thoroughly agree with you. It's kind of a "catch 22" situation....

@dbancroft, Dawn and Dave, + 1 🌷

Funny you should mention it, Debbie. It's a very old apt, at least 50 years, and, at that time, this flooring was the "latest cry/trend"... Nowadays, it is considered very outdated.... So, Lichy's parents decided to update the windows, the AC and the bathrooms. It is a huge apt, which is not build like that anymore. Moreover, it is in a prime location, a mere 5 mins walk to the Tel Aviv University campus. People prefer to renovate instead of selling and moving to a similar 4 bed rooms apt, albeit much smaller and double price.... When we arrived we got the "tour" of the new "facilities", and I was kind of surprised that they opted to leave the flooring as is. Glad you like it 😘. Indeed, we are, but then, Israelis are very open and friendly people. Also, being a very small country, even when people finish their studies, and find work in another city, they'll always be one or two hours drive. This 7 couples group consist mainly from guys and gurlz who were not "good enough" to enter med school in Israel, and studied together in Italy. All of them turned out to be excellent doctors, teaching med at Tel Aviv University (TAU)... Last group pic just before Covid. Another group of 5 couples was formed when we were relocated to Brussels. Turns out we all lived 10-15 mins walk from each other, in the same city... We all came back 1984-1986 and stick together since then. The beautiful gal standing behind me [at her son's wedding] even worked with me when we were both students at TAU, got married and relocated to Geneva, and, suddenly, was switched to Brussels, to my pleasant surprise... @Luckynana, Maryann, sorry the weather is not fully cooperating. Hopefully, you'll still have a great time.

Sad to see that the glacier has receded even more -- pic taken in July 2013. I hiked alone to the Falls, as you can see, it was a very hot and sunny day, and since DH had a "close encounter" with melanoma, he remained at the Visitor's center. A kind soul took my pic 😁

+ 4 👍🙏

+ 1 👍 🙏

First get together of our group of 7 couples since March 14th, 2020. Only one couple and DH "escaped" Covid... The "biological" parents of my step cat were the hosts, which gave me the opportunity to see Lichy "in person" after almost 3 years.... it was a very happy reunion 😍 She has such a silky fur ---

@George C + 1 😢

No Brandon?? No Lizzy?? Have a safe trip 😘

It was there in July 2013 😉

@molly361, Ellen + 1 😘

Glad for you, Mark. I think it gave you a much due respite from your new "routine".

@bobmacliberty + 💐

Third week in lockdown. So, instead of a port day in Zeebruge (on board of the brand new Celebrity Apex), I've cleaned the fridge....😁 Since we're "at risk", we didn't leave our appartment for groceries shopping -- young and gracious neighbors on the same floor are shopping for us once a week. Kids/grandkids (in different cities) -- "Zooming" with them once a day. Hopes that the lockdown will ease after Passover/Easter.