These were the best parts of the trip:
1. The Metropole was perfect - location, people, food, service - everything.

2. Venice was so amazing and spending 3 days there before the trip was just right.

3. The vaporetto from the airport to the Metropole was simple and cheap (9 E). I opted for it because it went directly to the street in front of the hotel. The hardest part was climbing over 2 bridges with my bag but it they were a short distance and not bad.

4. The Backroads trip was perfect: people, scenery, food, accomodations. I made 16 new friends. The guides were fabulous. The Veneto was georgeous - weather perfect. Would recommend both Backroads and the location to anyone.

Things that were not so good:

1. Transport to the start of the bike ride was awful. Meeting the driver in the pouring rain at Piazzale Roma was very difficult - it took an hour to find him. Next time I would have an international cellphone. It was impossible to find a working phone.

2. I wish I had kept my last night at the Metropole. The trip bus took us to the airport first and it was easy to get to the Metropole from the airport. He took us to the Mestre train station second and Hotel Bologna was right across the street but it was ugly and awful (though clean). Getting into Venice and back from Mestre in the heat and the crowds (of the film festival) wasn't too good. However, I had made friends on the trip and so I did pal around with one of them for the last afternoon and he and I took a gondola ride together - nice way to end the trip. Also we saw Renee Zellweger just walking along in San Marco.

3. I sort of wish I had planned to come home right after the trip - I would have made it easily because Backroads was relentlessly punctual - everything went like clockwork.

So the mishaps were minor. I would like to do another one of these next year. I don't know where yet but it was the most fun I've ever had on vacation. Thanks again for everything.