Venice Day 3 - Murano - the island and the famous glass

If you ever are in Venice and you wonder if a trip to Murano is worth it, YES IT IS.  Not only is it a wonderful boat ride, the island itself is a beautiful little town and the bonus is you get to watch some master glass blowers and actually see some of their amazing works of art. 

Jim and I were lucky in that the hotel we were staying in gives you a free water taxi ride over to Murano, it picked us up at the hotel, and in record speed (these guys are not slow and are maniacs on the water) drop you off at the pier for the glass company you are stopping at.  We were met at the dock by a lovely young lady who spoke wonderful English and explained everything that was happening to us and gave us a history of the Murano glass making artists. 

Sitting on benches with the canal lapping up at the walls and being only 15 feet max away, you were able to see all the little intricate things he did to make this amazing pitcher.

 We were so mesmerized we don't really know how long it took, but I don't think it could have been more than 20 to 30 minutes. 

The lovely young lady now took us on a tour of the showroom, no pictures allowed, these were all one of a kind works of art.  All of a sudden it started to feel like I was at a timeshare meeting.  Everytime I saw something I liked, it was picked up, put on a beautiful table to show it off to it's best, the calculator was out and the price for those beautiful 6 glasses and pitcher normally would be4000 euros but today only 1200 euros, what is your address we can have them waiting at home for your return.  Fully guaranteed, if they break in your lifetime we will make you a new one.  OUCH, 1200 euros for 6 glasses, the pitcher was 1000 euros itself.  Okay maybe we will keep looking, there were plates, there were violins, there were beautiful chandeliers.  There was one chandelier that was very familiar when I asked her about it she said the very large (very very large) version is at the Bellagio in Las Vegas. 

After dutifully walking through all the beautiful works of art, we said we would think about it :).  We now thought we would be escorted back to the water taxi pier.  NOPE, very politely she showed us to the back door and told us to take the bus.  :)

Thankfully we did go out the back door, because what a lovely little island Murano is, with lots of little shops (where I did buy a Murano glass ball made probably by one of their lowly apprentices) and we did stop for a lovely lunch (pizza - I do love my pizza). 

We finally find the water bus and off we go back to St. Mark's square for our mid afternoon wine break while we watch the gondolas and all the action. 

Venice Day 2 - The Doge Palace and Wandering Around

Woke up to another beautiful day in Venice.  Definitely putting the shorts on today.  And then it's cappuccino time.  You have to love Italy, Cappuccino and pastry, pizza and wine, Capuccino and biscuit, Wine, Pasta and Wine and Limoncello to finish off the night.  My day is planned.  Now what can I do so that my shorts will still fit me when I go home.  Start walking girl.  Yesterday on a slow travel day we did 10,000 steps, hoping to break that today.

Today we are heading to the Doge's Palace, originally built in 810, it was rebuilt and expanded multiple times after fires and to add more chambers.  Not only was it the home of the Doge (supreme authority of the Republic of Venice) but it also housed the Council and Senate Chambers.

 In the 19th century the Italian government realized that if they didn't start renovating the buildings they would probably have collapsed.  The public offices were moved out of the buildings other than the State Office for the protection of historical monuments and the huge task of renovating it was undertaken.

I have decided I am a statue person.  As beautiful as all these paintings are, I think I am painted out.  My walking shoes were moving pretty fast as we passed by amazing paintings on walls, ceilings,  nooks and cranies, basically everywhere.  The 15th century seemed to produce a virtual conveyor belt of dark portrait and religious paintings.

While we were there work was being done on one of the many statutes dating back to the 14th and 15th centuries.  It amazes me that these works of art were made 600 years ago and how the Italians/Europeans prized every one and take such pride in their history and artists.

The view from one of the many balconies of the palace looking over the many little islands surrounding Venice.

The Bridge of Sighs, this little bridge connected the Doge Palace with the prison.  It was called the Bridge of Sighs as a lot of times this was the prisoners last view of Venice and their family as they peered through the gaps in the walls.  As you can see from the bridge another highlight and busy selfie spot on the Grand Canal.  :)

None of my womanly charms could convince Jim to go into one of the cells.  :)

Time for a little lunch

Time to keep wandering, need to work off the pizza.  

After seeing all these beautiful costumes and masks we couldn't resist going to one of the many little intimate opera shows they have on all around Venice.  These shows cost around 100 euros and are well worth it, the venues are works of art themselves and there are only about 150 people there and only 1.5 hours long.  And yes even though we couldn't understand one word they were saying, the emotion and love came through loud and clear.  Lots of fun, and great music, voices and costumes.

Final step count for the day 12,000.  Room for one more drink before bedtime as we enjoy the view of the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute (Basilica of Saint Mary of Health)

Venice - Day 1

Nothing better than getting to the airport in time to have a glass of champagne at the Sheraton before we board our flight.  We are flying Air Canada Rouge and it turned out to be an amazing flight.  Still didn't sleep, but we did rest.  Just too excited.

If you only speak one language, English is a good one to have, pretty well everyone we asked directions from spoke English.  As we get off the plane we are not sure where we are going, but thankfully the signs are pretty easy to follow.  We grab a cab into Roma Square.  OK didn’t really know that Venice is a total walking or boating city, no cars, so we get dropped off at the Piazzale Roma - the land transportaton gateway.  From here on you are either on a boat or walking, we were told it was about a 20 minute walk to our hotel so we opted for the water bus (7.50 euro a trip).  30 minutes later we are still tooting about.  Finally we come to Piazza San Marco (Saint Mark’s square) and hop off with our suitcases.  Oops wrong stop.

"The Square" is the hub of Venice.  The Doge's Palace, St. Mark's Basicila, some of the most expensive hotel real estate to stay in are all situated along this part of the Grand Canal.  There are tourists everywhere (yes including us).

We now push our suitcases up and down steps, over cobblestones for 25 minutes (yes it would have been a closer walk from Piazzle Roma) before we end up at the Hotel Rialto right by the Rialto bridge and right beside a water taxi stop.  LOL  This bridge was modernized in 1591, leading architects of the time, didn't think it would ever last.  Now it is constantly filled with tourists and the most dangerous part is watching out for selfie sticks as you try to cross over.

Our Hotel - the Hotel Rialto feels as old as the bridge.  The rooms are huge and it is an amazing location with great dining just steps away.   Yes these are the keys to our room.  Everytime you leave you hand it back in.  Luckily Jim had big pockets.

OK ladies don't get excited that's THE JIM not THE DAVID, We are still in Venice :)

Our 25 minute walk from San Marco square gave us a great idea of the layout of the city, a quick bite to eat, unpack, a quick nap and we are off exploring. 

Although I have been imagining what Venice was like and thought I had a good idea (from my many James Bond movies), it still totally shocked me.  There are big canals, little canals, big alleys, little alleys, hotels, motels, shops, opera houses, churches along with people and porters walking or boating - non stop motion.  Every single item in every single store had to come in by boat.  Everything you ate or drank had to come in by boat.  Mail delivery was by boat.  Everything broken, every bit of garbage had to then go back out by boat.  All the tourists travelled back and forward by boat or else walked.  It was a mass of movement every second.  All these hundred year old buildings on the canals were being whacked constantly by the waves from the boats.  I think the most fun I had was just sitting with a glass of wine waiting for someone to crash or fall off one of the many boats.  They all seemed to drive like Jim down the DVP - people will stop for me, if Jim wants to move over he moves over.  It was magical.  The water buses have floating docks tied to the streets, when they stop, they just crash into them.  The people on the boat all get jarred and the people on the floating dock all get jarred.  They are steel so it's impossible not to be startled.  Again just waiting for someone to fall off.  

On every corner there were artists practicing their art.  What a great way to travel the world and bring back your memories.  

The vendors were busy along the main part of the Grand Canal.  They weren't pushy at all.  This was one of my favourite stands.  Jim was having a wee bit of culture shock, North America is so focused on the female form whereas Italy loves the male form (me too).  Can't wait for him to get to Florence :)

Even with all these touritsts, artists, vendors, porters, etc you would every so often turn a corner and find yourself alone - for a second.  Here is one of the few pictures I took without a group of people in it.  lol

Our first dinner in Venice was at an unbelievable little restaurant in a little alley just minutes away from our hotel.  I decided to be adventurous and try something fishy.  Not being a fish person I was being pretty brave  my first night out.  There was a homemade fettuccine with scampi, when I asked what exactly scampi was the waiter told me it was like shrimp.  Perfect I actually like shrimp.  The meal was amazing, after my first reaction of shock, there were lovely little pieces of scampi cut up in the pasta but there were also 3 big scampi with all their bits on top.  Quick as could be they were popped onto Jim's plate.   

 

As excited as we were jet lag was starting to hit us so off to bed we went with this amazing view.  Such a magical city.