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Published: November 10th 2017
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Murano
From the water tax Today I set my sights in the island of Murano, where they make beautiful glass. As I left my hotel I took my first step in the wrong direction. I don't know where my head was at, considering I've had the way to San Silvestro stop down pat ever since I got here, but I soon found myself in a street I didn't recognise. No matter, ploughed on and it wasn't long before I spied a sign pointing to Rialto. Took a short stroll over the Rialto bridge and found the vaporetto stop. As I was trying to figure out which dock to get on I heard a guy giving away complimentary trips to Murano. It was a promo thing but it was a free taxi to the island and a glass blowing display. Its Sunday and the production facility is closed so I guess this is their way of getting in on the weekend tourists. The taxi was cool, much faster then the vaporetto, and I could stand at the back to get some great pics (I hope) of the Venetian coast line.
We get to the glass production facility and were treated to a glass blower plying his
trade. It was amazing to watch, he made it look so easy, first he made a vase, then a figurine of a horse, in the space of about 15 minutes. My guess is its like clay turning, looks easy when someone else does it but if I were to have a shot there would be a god awful mess. After the demonstration they took us up to the showroom, so many beautiful pieces. My favourite was a tree with tropical birds on it. It stood about 3 foot tall. I was to scared to ask how much. There were also to gorgeous glass statues of horses that I know my sister would have loved, I asked, only €12,000. Sorry Chris but I just don't love you that much. After a great deal of indecision, I finally settled on a seal for myself and a vase for Mum & Dad. I intrepidly walked downstairs, still wondering if I'd made the right decision, when I am led to their shop front, where all the reasonably priced stuff is. Buggers, suckered me, but I still paid for my two agonisingly selected pieces. I wont say how much I spent but if any of
Murano
Cycling anyone? my nieces and nephews read this, if you see the vase at Gran & Pop's be very careful, you break it, you die. I only hope I can get them back home without breakage.
I spent the rest of the morning walking around Murano, lovely little place with lots of glass shops (surprise, surprise) I stopped for lunch then made my way back to the hotel. I wanted to make sure my purchases were safe. I had a very quiet afternoon, checked my emails, updated my blog, face booked and then a siesta. Sunday is a day of rest after all.
After my siesta it was time to go out and explore again. I headed out to San Marco. I think I've seen a thousand shops selling Venetian masks and another thousand selling glass and jewellery. I guess you could say I got lost but how can one be lost when one has no particular destination in mind. I wound up on the shoreline again were I stopped to have dinner at a reasonably priced restaurant (not many in this location) All over Italy I have seen these African dudes on the street selling their wares, bags, watches,
etc cheap knock off's no doubt. One had set up shop just outside the restaurant I was in. Just after eight he packed up shop then I saw about a dozen of them walking along the shore. I figured they were packing up for the evening. Two minutes later five more came walking back with more wares and set up shop again. They must be the night shift.
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