The Islands of Venice

                                                        The Islands of Venice

       Someone wrote that the best way to see Venice is to let yourself get lost. On our way to visit the charming islands of Burano and Murano we managed just that. Venice's back streets snake their way through the city, on bridges that cross it's 177 canals and in small 'Calles' that often come to a dead end. Much like it's Grand Canal and Rialto Bridge the city is alive with traffic, both water and pedestrian. Huge crowds vied for gondola rides and water busses.

       Finally we found our 'vaporetto' (water bus) that took us to the picturesque lace making island of Burano. The colorful facades of the house were painted the way they are so the sailors could pick out their own places when they returned in the fog that often engulfed the island. The ladies on the island are famous lace makers and this is evident throughout the island.

       The island of Murano took over the glass-blowing function that Venice once had. It is a microcosm of it's larger Venetian counterpart with bridges and canals throughout. However the quantity of glass and it's various shapes, colors and sizes filled the island. There were even large glass 'statues' in their piazzas that got me to thinking. I could only imagine that if an American city had such structures they would be destroyed or written on as these ones seemed to have no guards nearby.

       The day was productive, the weather was highly cooperative and the food and drink delicious. With sore feet and joints we turned in early tonight and dreamed of visiting the Rialto outdoor market, Piazza san Marco and church and the Doge's Palace.