Serendipitous memories

In the letter “Vaporetti in Venice” (Nov. ’14, pg. 32), a subscriber wrote about the vaporetto pass. While on a tour of Italy in October 2009, my wife, Kathy, and I had a free day in Venice. I bought us each a 24-hour pass and we rode the vaporetti all day.

We toured Burano for lace and Murano for glass and rode all around, ending up taking the No.1 down the Grand Canal to Piazza San Marco. 

It was sunset, and as we sat in an outdoor café with our espressos, the low-lying sun illuminated the lamps and windows in Santa Maria della Salute. It was fantastic. What a way to finish a tour!

• The letter “Friendly Encounter in Split” (Nov. ’14, pg. 33) reminded us of a 2007 cruise we took from Venice to Istanbul that stopped in Dubrovnik, Croatia. 

After touring Dubrovnik’s main street and the Rector’s Palace, we heard music playing up a side street. Following our ears, we came to a small square where a jazz combo was performing. The piano player looked like Telly Savalas, the sax player looked like Charlie Chaplin and the guitar player looked like a young Jack Nicholson! 

We sat and enjoyed the music and a couple glasses of wine. I bought a CD the band was selling, and every time I play it, it brings back memories of the place.

It’s the off-the-beaten-path events that make traveling so enjoyable.

STEVE GOCH

Santa Paula, CA