Venice, Italy

April 18-19

We had two glorious days in Venice, one of my FAVORITE cities.  I was lucky enough to be able to escort a tour to Murano and Burano on the first day; two islands that are a part of 4o islands making up the Veneto.

A number of years ago, furnaces were outlawed in Venice due to the threat of fire to this beautiful city.  Therefore all of the glassmakers were moved to the island of Murano where they could practice there art at a safe distance from the city.  Nowadays Murano is famous for its venetian glass, an art that is renowned the world over for its beautiful colors and the skill it takes to create these priceless pieces.  On our tour we went to a glassblowing workshop where we were able to see this art at its finest, and to actually see a few pieces created.  We then walked around a few galleries and the  city itself to better appreciate the  pieces and the skill involved to make them.  It was such a wonderful experience and I hadn't seen anything like it.

 

 

We arrived in style

One mans back door is another mans dock.

 

The studio

 

 

 

 

The glass master

Making a vase.

We couldn't take pictures in the glass gallery.  So after a look around, we went to stroll the streets.

The parking lot…:)

These building and people have the courage to watch things fall apart, gracefully.

Burano is famous for its lace-making.  We visited a store where we learned about how the lace pieces are made, and walked through a lace museum where some truly incredible items were on display.  In the shop itself a little white dog (venetian fox breed) wandered between our feet and captured my heart.  The island of Burano is marked by its many colored houses and we delighted in walking its streets and the smell of cookies that seemed to hang in the air.

Lace butterflies

Under magnification.  anyone else feel like they have no skills…. thank god for modern accomplishments!

Lace…for your toilet paper

Masks are everywhere here

haha, I dont really improve the view

I knew I smelled cookies!

 

Stay between the markers, otherwise you’ll run aground.

We passed the rowing school where young boaters and gondoliers train.

 

After the tour I met up with some friends for an evening stroll and to enjoy some Italian cuisine.

My Pizza!  And yes…..I ate it all myself.  No touching!  ha ha ha.  delicious!

Wait….is it flooding?

Yup!  the tide came in!

Rialto bridge

Ballet Bam ala Rialto

Cuddling my dessert

Love a good door!

How tall are these people?

Canals are quiet at midnight

A sunken gondola

St. Marks square

Walkways are in place for walkers to avoid the high tide

The cathedral connected to the doges palace

Palace entrance

The bridge of sighs connects the doges palace to the prison next door.  The Poet George Byron coined its name, imaging how many people must sigh as they walk to their imprisonment.

It was my friend Jose’s first time to venice so we were giving him the scenic night tour.

Andrea samples the wares:)