Great! Belle, I have just moved you up to the definite list.

(Do you know how difficult it is for me not to remark that everytime I see you something pops up? But I won't. This is the serious thread.)

Seriously...
 

Since you brought it up, don't you always carry a miniscule bottle of cholula in your pocket wherever you go?

To be back on topic, I shall also bring gifts to the MEET. Some local 'things' from Atlanta. ;)

Not all of the attendees have replied to me. I still have not heard from ms Everywhere, Jerrie. Orseo, Punki, Vasantn
Please e-mail me: [email protected] or send me a PM.
Thanks,
"O2K"

Jerrie and Vasantn, you have not yet said whether you will be staying at the Ai Mori or not. Even if you will not, please let O2K know that.

Orseo, you said you will be at the Ai Mori but it is important that O2K knows your real name so that the hotel can match up your reservation with our reservations list.

Thanks, Dov. Just e-mailed Marco the names I do have. Total of 13 rooms. Appears that if everyone shows we will have 16 rooms booked. I am going to be speaking to him tonight (he starts work at 7:00AM tomorrow). Will be discussing restaurants which can accomodate approx 25-30 people in private room: I specifically asked him to check on Vino de Gigio and Antica Mola, both are near the hotel and are Mom and Pop trattorias (which we love) As some of you may know, Marco is Venetian and I completely trust his recommendations.

O2K, I am not familiar with either trattoria so I ran a check on the web. The Antica Mola ("The Ancient Millstone") sounds fine -- except for the fact that its name reminds me of my ex.

I could not find "Vino de Gigio", which makes sense because it is not proper Italian. I then tried "Vino di Gigio", which would be proper Italian, but came up with zilch. I did, however, locate a trattoria near the Ai Mori called "Da Gigio".

I have to admit that its menu did not thrill me: "Da Gigio is a small, congenial trattoria on the quayside of a canal. Popular with Italians, it serves traditional Venetian dishes such as sarde in saor (sardines in onion and vinegar) and risotto made with squid and squid ink."

Please ask Marco if I can get some normal food in the place (veal, beef, unsquided pasta or un-inked risotto).

This an ELITE thing or is anybody welcome ? :)

Dino, it is both. Any FlyerTalker is welcome, but by deciding to come to the Venice Meet you automatically make yourself the Elite of the Elite!

:)

I am working for plat with PC and on checking they only seem to have HI in Venice, I really need the points to hit plat, Does any one know if they are to far away to work with this meet?

VENICE-MESTRE-MARGHERA
Holiday Inn
ROTONDA ROMEA 1/2
MARGHERA VENEZIA, 30175
ITALY

Dino

I don't have to ask Marco. I have been there many times and, Dov, I promise that you can even have spaghetti and meatballs. They serve very nice, simple food (their Osso Bucco is delicious) in addition to the traditional Venetian dishes which you mentioned.

Spaghetti and meatballs are out! I love it, but being a Milanese, Bianca considers anyone who has their meat and pasta on the same plate to be a barbarian. Well, she already considers me a barbarian but there is no reason for me to give her more evidence.

On the other hand, she is a major osso bucco freak so maybe she won't be paying attention to what I am eating.

Of the three Holiday Inns in the Venice area, the only one that makes any sense at all is the one in Mestre.

This is about 5 miles out of Venice proper but there are busses and trains constantly connecting Mestre to Venice until the wee hours of the morning. Even then, you can get a taxi. The ride is only about 10 minutes.

If you come by train, you can walk from the Venice terminal to the Ai Mori, where most of us are staying. If you come by bus or taxi, you will have to take a waterbus.

The upside of staying in Mestre is that it is usually much less expensive than Venice itself. The downside, of course, is that you can't just walk out of your hotel and be in the magic of Venice.

As far as the Meet is concerned, you could certainly stay in Mestre and be able to make it to all the scheduled functions but you won't be in a position to go along when a few people suddenly decide to head for a local bar, trattoria, pastry shop, or just stroll through the city.

I am very happy about some good news that I just got!

There is a mysterious poster from Germany with the user name of rcs85551 who comes on the Delta Forum from time to time to give us the most detailed and accurate information about Delta that we get from any F/Ter.

Sometimes this information is not public knowledge. At other times it is advance knowledge. In all cases it is 100% spot on. A lot of us have been helped by rcs85551 and we would all like to get to know him better.

That may well turn out to be the case!

rcs85551 has put himself on the "Possible" list. If work allows, he will be joining us, albeit only from Saturday afternoon until Sunday afternoon. He has made a reservation at the Westin for Saturday night.

For most Delta Forum habituees, just meeting rcs85551 will be worth the trip to Venice!

This is, indeed, good news. I had the pleasure of meeting rcs85551 in a CRC in Atl a few years ago. Dov is right. This gentleman is a wonderful asset to the DL forum and a terrific guy. Hope to see him at our VCE meet.

Glad to hear rcs85551 might come
 

It's great news that rcs85551 might come. That means I might seem him in 3 continents in 6 months - and can pressure him about a Munich Do each time. ;)