Day 14 - Thursday, April 27 - Venice - Murano & Burano
Murano is home to all the glassblowers and the famous Murano glass. They used to be in Venice, but due to the heat of their glassblowing ovens and fires, Venice mandated that all the glassblowers had to move to a separate Venetian island, Murano.
We only spent about 1 1/2 hours on Murano but it was an incredible time. We were ushered in to a private glass blowing demonstration by a 'master' glass blower of the famous Murano glass. He made a vase for us as well as a horse. I've seen glassblowing done, close to home, in Millville NJ at Wheaton Glass Works But it never fails to amaze me. After the demonstration we were escorted to the 2nd floor for a look at their showroom of amazing glass objects. Vases, dishes, goblets, decanters, glass whales, turtles, horses, etc. We were not permitted to take pictures of their finished work for sale. I'l have to save those memories. After we looked through the showroom, we were able to look at the "bargain" showroom. The items in there were wonderful as well. I'm guessing there may have been flaws, but not to my eye. I bought a small paperweight to go with my collection of Wheaton Village paperweights and a necklace made of Murano glass. I know the ladies back home are cheering me that I actually bought jewelry. Yes, I'm going to wear it, I promise.
We boarded our boat again and a half hour later we were on the Venetian island of Burano. I love this beautiful colorful island. This island is known for lacemaking, a lost art. And, of courses their fishing industry. The woman who gave us the demonstration was 81 years old and had been making lace for 71 years. She went to school at the age of 10 to learn.
Wayne and I had a very nice lunch in Burano and then had free time to walk around the small village. What a colorful island. The myth (?) is that the women of the island all painted their houses a different color. When their sailor husbands came home, they would know which house (and wife) was theirs. Many homes have a curtain in front of the front door. They can leave their doors open for fresh air and just use the curtain to keep out flies (I guess).
When we boarded the boat again, I was dropped off at St. Mark's square in the main part of Venice. There I had 3.5 hours to wander on my own until my 6:15 pm gondola ride. We passed the statute below of hands. We learned from our guide that the sculpture was designed by Anthony Quinn's son, an artist in his own right.
I wandered St. Marks square looking at Doge's Palace and St. Mark's Basilica along with all the other amazing sites in the square. Wayne and I return there tomorrow, Saturday. We have a very early departure of 6:45 am as we need to go there, return and the ship leaves Venice at 2 pm. It's a 5.25 hour tour with 3 hours spent on the water going and coming.
The tour I booked were group gondola rides and since Wayne wasn't interested, I went alone. I presumed I would be with another couple (a threesome). However, that was not to be. I was seated in a gondola myself, but with two musicians who sang and played the accordion throughout the trip for all the gondolas in our group. He could be heard a long way. He had a beautiful voice. I do have to say that the entire ride was quite depressing for me. It made me realize just how alone I am. All the other gondolas were, of course, couples. It would have been easier if I had been with other people but to be singled out, literally made it all that much more clear. Enough said, moving on.
After our gondola ride we were led back to our boat for the 1.5 hour ride back to the ship. I arrived at about 9:30 p.m. A long day. 10,854 steps and right to bed but not necessarily to sleep.
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