Glass and Greatness

Venice

Monday 25th August

Good morning! What are you doing at the start of another week? What a great weekend for the Whites as Steve's team took two wins in Sydney - super!!! And of course we had the win over Geelong!! Not expected but a lot of people obviously tipped them - news about team changes is pretty scarce over here. The Kiwi couple have certainly let me know about our debacle in the rugby! Oh well, still a good weekend eh? 

Down to business. I am sure you will sympathasise with us when we say that this touring business can be pretty tiring. Stop laughing you mob! We had a leisurely breakfast of various good healthy foods on the hotel terrace on the side of the Grand Canal. It was busy with many of the delivery boats restocking the many hotels and shops with - all of which is delivered by boat.

The nearby bridge over which we wheeled our suitcase full of dirty clothes.

Milk and cheese anyone?

After breakfast we travelled by launch (Venetian equivalent to a coach) to the famous Murano glass factory. This was quite extraordinary, with a demonstration of glass blowing by a master craftsman. The horse here took him about two minutes to make.

After watching the remarkable skill this man has been honing for over forty years, we were taken into the showrooms. No cameras were allowed and there was about one security guard for each person in our group. The rooms were a glass wonderland. These amazing works of art were stunning Fromm jewelry, goblets and vases to huge chandeliers. Breathtaking!

We paused briefly (enough to allow you to buy items and lighten your wallet considerably) before onto St.Mark's Square and the Doges Palace. Rather like Versailles Palace in opulence this was once a functioning seat of government and law court. The Doges were elected to the council for a limited time by the six districts of Venice.

It wasn't all by boat

Entering the Palace.

It was fascinating to listen to our local guide Raphaelle, explain the artwork and function of each room. We crossed the Bridge of Sighs , across which the condemned traveled to their fate and took their last look at the outside.

As you can see there is no lavish gilding on these windows which only shed light on the narrow corridors and not into the cells. Yes indeed these Venetians were very wealthy. 

We took lunch in a tiny local cafe and ate panini and coffee, which seems to be always good and they don't use plastic milk.

We shared our launch with another Trafalgar tour group and cruised out to the island village of Burano. Nothing here seems to have changed in many years and the colorful houses are wonderful subjects for photography.

Although a little late for lunch, no one objected to sitting down to a seafood extravaganza in a Michelin star restaurant. Truly the food and wine were fantastic and they really did spoil us.

Then the spectacle of this beautiful city in the evening light. Two cruise liners left at this time which seems to have emptied the place - there again they would have poured maybe 5000 tourists into town.

Upon our return to the hotel we went looking for a laundromat and four one nearby. So we had a great evening watching our clothes go round and round. We were also joined by two other couples with the same intention and similar piles of dirty clothes. 

So buona Serra and Ciao from Venetia.

All our love to you all.

Poss and Pop.