Venice - Day 2

After breakfast, cornetti and caffe of course, we took a private tour to Murano. We walked down to the Rialto dock where a beautiful, wooden water taxi was waiting to take us away through the canals and out to Murano in record time. Beats the water bus! The fog had lifted from the day before and we had good views as we sped away. Arriving at Murano we visited a glass making factory which we found interesting. The glass master and his apprentices were making goblets and we watched them for a fair while, fascinated by the skill involved in manipulating the molten glass. Afterwards we were taken to the showrooms which were breathtaking. I've never seen so much beautiful (and expensive!) glass and crystal. Rooms crammed with chandeliers and sculpture and glass sets. My birthday present was a truly luminescent blue glass and silver necklace and a set of bracelets. A special reminder. Thanks Marty!

After this we strolled along Murano's own Grand Canal, criss-crossing it's many bridges and looking in nearly every shop window. We came across a fruit and vegetable seller on his boat alongside the promenade. It was a typical Friday morning and the locals were purchasing the produce. It made me hungry! We stood at the bar of a cafe and downed an espresso each and hopped back on a boat.

James coped well with all the walking he'd done so far but by this time was fading fast. We bought arancini rice balls, pizette, anchovies in mozzarella and 'red' orange juice and ate at the table in our suite. He was determined not to have a rest so out we went again and jumped on a vaporetto (water bus) toward Ca'd'Oro district. James fell asleep in my arms. Martin took him from me and went back to the hotel so I could shop unencumbered! I bought some jewelery and a handbag. It was a great feeling to meander along narrow laneways over countless canals and past some of the most exclusive shops I've ever seen in one small area! Three Gucci stores!

Upon returning to the hotel I discovered that James had woken as Martin had tried to put him down to bed and was not to be cajoled into a rest! So we freshened up and ventured out to find some dinner. We were never able to get through Piazza San Marco without James chasing the poor pigeons! He ran around and around and we could only stand and watch with eagle eyes (no pun intended!) as he alternated between roaring at them and calling "come on birdy" with hands outstretched. I hope they had a nice rest when we left!

The sun was setting and we walked along the promenade past the Bridge of Sighs and back around to the now-familiar Rialto. We weren't organised so it was pizza again (no complaints, really!) and another gelati. We were too full and tired to walk anymore so we caught a vaporetto back to San Marco and called it a day. What a day!

[Martin - the vaporetto along the Grand Canal was a spectacular way to see Venice at night. It meanders along the canal stopping outside palaces with the lights from the street restaurants and cafes reflecting off the water. Arriving back at Piazza San Marco we walked under the street lamps shaded with rose venetian glass.]

Photos are here.