Amazing Murano Glass

Venice, Italy -- Day 2

Our main plan for the day consisted of visiting the Basilica and Campanile in San Marco’s Square. However, as we left the water bus, and were walking past the souvenir stands, we managed to let ourselves get lured into a “free” boat ride to Murano. A scant minute later the four of us were whisked away in the back of a fancy, wood planked taxi boat racing out into the main channel.

I get a little worried when I hear the word “free," but it was fun to be on the water.  As a bonus, we got a glimpse of the looming Alps in the distance. Gulp! Only a few more days before we’re back in the mountains for real.

Despite my skepticism, the glass blowing demo was really, really cool.  Apparently, the Doge (historical ruler of Venice) banished all glass works to the nearby island centuries ago to avoid the all-to-common fires. The master glass blower working in front of us made a beautify, wavy, blue glass vase and a small, glass horse (the latter in about a minute and a half).  These guys are true artisans; during certain crucial steps there is no room for error, like pulling the wide flanged bowl shaped glass from the furnace and quickly spinning the the malleable glass end over end to evenly fold down the sides -- really fascinating to watch.

The tour was followed up by the obligatory walk through the factory store -- rooms and rooms of amazing glass work, starting from colorful, flowery chandeliers costing tens of thousands of euros to small glass bowls and figurines for merely fifty or a hundred. Though we resisted the urge to part with our cash, the displays were truly impressive works of art.

As we exited the store, congratulating ourselves on not spending any money, we chanced to meet another Bay Area family - Jeff and Amy and their three girls Clair, Caitlin, and Madeline. It was fun to chat as they, too, will be spending a year away from home, the girls attending school in beautiful Bali.

We had Face-Timed my brother Dan the other day, and he had sung the praises of Italian cheese and salami sandwiches.  Determined to experience it first hand, we found a sandwich shop and enjoyed five meat and cheese sandwiches.  Awesome.  Nothing like a cappuccino and some gelato to top off a delicious lunch.  We could definitely get used to this.

Clearly we had had a strenuous day, so we hopped on the water bus back to the hotel and promptly took naps.  The Basilica Di San Marco would have to wait until tomorrow.  

Meg found a dinner spot in the general vicinity of our friend’s (Tina and Fredrik’s) favorite gelato shop, Grom, ensuring we'd get our second daily allowance of ice cream.

With water lapping at the walkways; stone-arched bridges; narrow alley ways; hidden courtyards; and shop-lined streets; it is a treat just to walk around the city.  Dex and Kylie, on the other hand, were completely preoccupied with catching small crabs clinging to the banks of the canals.