Hi Jane. That does sound like an awful long journey for naught. I'm glad you got home OK. I agree trains and subways can be great. The ones in Czech Republic are pretty good. I liked the ones in Berkeley, CA when I lived there in my youth. New Jersey's needs improvement. All in the NYC and Philly areas need upgrading. I heard they sort of almost scrapped train upgrades from the upcoming bipartisan infrastructure bill because some in the US don't value them as much as they should. Perhaps that is in the reconciliation bill.

No Venice in the near future, or Italy at all. Vienna, Austria. The latter is much closer. Only a 2 hour or so drive from us. We have been to Venice in the past, and other parts of Italy. I agree it was wonderful. Likely better way back then (some years ago) than in recent years. They say tourism there and in Florence is now unchecked, though during the pandemic some may say it was improved, "sans tourists".