|
|
     
A Weekend Away With a Twist
I was not one hundred per cent certain what to expect, but I was
looking forward to the weekend nonetheless, especially as it would cheer up a relatively
cold and damp November weekend. A few weeks prior to our trip, my boyfriend (now husband)
informed me that we were going to the lovely town of Arundel in East Sussex for the
weekend, by invitation of his manager, along with the rest of his office team. This
did not seem strange as his company does such things now and again. Before we knew it,
my boyfriend had received the invitation in the post, along with a brochure of the hotel
where we would be staying, which I must say looked stunning, and an itinerary for the weekend.
This included a day at the races, an evening ball in Arundel Castle and also a trip in a hot
air balloon (my boyfriend’s manager was well-known for being a hot air balloon fanatic). I
was extremely excited and “shopped ‘til I dropped” for clothes to wear during this luxurious
weekend away.
On the day we were leaving, my boyfriend collected me from my house and with my luggage all
packed in we headed off in the car towards Arundel. This was where the plot thickened! As we
drove along the M23 motorway, my boyfriend turned off at the exit for Gatwick airport. I was
bewildered, but he would not explain anything and before I knew it we were checked in to a
flight to Venice, and I was handed a book on the city as a gift.
Venice — what can I say. It was a magical weekend. We stayed in the
Danieli Hotel on the waterfront
by a canal. A gorgeous hotel with wonderful Venetian charm and staffed by people who couldn’t do
enough for you — a definite must for those seeking utter luxury during their stay. On our first night
we arrived rather late, so after arriving at the hotel on a boat we just went to our room and slept.
The next day began our sightseeing. After a scrumptious breakfast enjoyed at leisure, we headed along
the canal to St. Mark’s Square where, to my delight, my boyfriend got down on one knee and proposed!
It couldn’t have been more perfect. If you haven’t been there before, I recommend that you visit this
attractive and lively square, dotted with cafes, a beautiful church and a tower which you can ascend.
The remainder of the weekend was spent seeing the many beautiful sights around Venice. We visited the
delightful St. Mark’s Basilica in St. Mark’s Square, took a boat trip to the island of Murano.
We visited a glass-blowing factory which was really interesting (the
gentleman who demonstrated how he crafts the vases and other objects
told us that his son plays football in England for a Premiership side), walked
over the Rialto Bridge and wandered aimlessly around the canals, which is just about the most perfect
way to see the city. We stopped at many places and took many photos — the city is so beautiful, you could
snap away all day long. In the evening we went to Harry’s Bar for a drink, and then dined in the
Gritti Palace Hotel — definitely worth eating
in. The food was exquisite and the staff extremely helpful and friendly.
The weekend was perfect and I would recommend Venice to anyone who enjoys culture, romance and, of course,
Italian food.
Book Venice
Hotels here
|