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Published: October 3rd 2011
Gondola Ride
Enjoying a liesurely gondola ride around the canals of VeniceVENICE WALKING TOUR
After a hearty breakfast we jumped into our taxi boats and headed for St Marks Square. It was another early start to avoid the crowds. Our local guide was a Frenchwomen and she was good fun, she joked with the group and her fiery French temperament surfaced a couple of times – particularly when she saw an unauthorised guide taking a small group of tourists around! We started our tour in St Marks square and then ventured into the maize of narrow streets which are still above sea level. We saw the Opera House which although it was quite plain on the outside was extremely opulent on the inside – our guide said while the Sydney Operas House looks fantastic on the outside it has no soul or character once inside – the Venice Opera House was the opposite. Not all of the Aussies were impressed but she could certainly hold her own with the banter.
The back streets were a mix of classy stores and souvenir shops, Venetian Masks are a very popular item, as are striped Gondola t shirts plus the full range of normal touristy items. Some of the masks were really impressive.
Local Guide
Our local guide Danielle was French, fiery and funny - and of course very knowledgeable GLASS BLOWING DEMONSTATION
Our tour finished at the Galleria San Marco (Murano Glass Factory) where we had a brief glass blowing demonstration, the glass blowers do a 17 year apprenticeship to become Master Craftsmen and it was very interesting seeing one at work. He made a jug as we watched, including putting on the handle.
Afterwards we got to look around the showroom and we bought a set of 6 glasses, a decanter and tray. It was ridiculously expensive but Venice glass is famous the world over and this was one of the top local companies. Although we will never sell it the set will increase in value over time. We even got Davidson Venice 2011 engraved on the bottom of the decanter.
As we said Venice is famous for its glass and has been for centuries, the mosaics on the outside of St Marks are made with billions of tiny coloured glass beads – except for the gold which is real gold of course. All the glass from Venice comes from the Venice Island of Murano, giving the glass its own unique characteristics.
SOAKING UP THE ATMOSPHERE
We then had a couple of hour’s free
Interesting Architecture
Our walk through the back streets of Venice threw up a few surprises in the fornm of some very unique and impressive buildings. time, I needed a drink to get over the cost of our purchase and Jeanette wanted to have a look around the souvenir shops. I went back to the Lavena Cafe, my seat was a Wayne Rooney special (25 yards out in line with the left hand edge of the box/church) away from St Marks Basilica –with clear line of site - on one side, and a similar distance from a very accomplished classical quartet on the other – just the best spot in St Marks Square to be having a quiet drink. I had to pay a surcharge for the music and I think 2 beers cost 28 Euro but it’s a once in a lifetime experience and we’re making the most of it! I would have sat there for a good hour watching the world go by before it became too hot.
We joined Don and Sue for lunch, we managed to find a shaded spot just off the square, the temperature must have been in the 30’s with no wind to cool things down. Not at all like the Wellington winters we know and love so much!
VENICE GONDOLA RIDE
Next up it was a
Class Glass
Our new edition - 6 glasses, a decanter and tray. top quality Venetian work with a price to match! Gondola ride around the canals, there were 4 to a boat and we paired up with Doug and Linda from Sydney who we also get on very well with. It was a pleasant half hour trip at a nice slow pace so we were able to get a good look at the buildings, bridges and general activity on the canal. Our Gondola guy was very particular about where we sat and with good reason as they really aren’t that stable in the water. He wasn’t exactly a happy smiley Gondola guy but we chatted with the others and had a good time.
BURANO ISLAND
Today was another big day and after completing our Gondola Ride we had about 15 minutes to get along the waterfront to catch our boat to Burano Island which was about a 45 minute boat ride from St Marks Square. Venice is actually made up of around 130 Islands of which approximately 30 are inhabited.
Burano is a traditional fishing village, however despite its relative isolation there were still plenty of tourists around. Despite that it felt very much like a traditional fishing town and we were looking forward to dining at a top
Burano's Leaning Tower
The funny thing is when you leave the island it looks straight-must be the Grappa! local fish restaurant.
The meal took us all by surprise and was like nothing you could imagine, it was 7 courses: bread and fish paste, fish lasagne, fish risotto, fish fillet, calamari, prawns and sweet cakes and biscuits to finish – I’m surprised they didn’t find a way to make fish biscuits! It was great but just too much for most particularly as there was no break, as one course finished the next came out! We rounded things off with some Grappa – a local drink made from grape skins, apparently it helps to digest the food, God knows what the alcohol content was but it smelt dangerously close to methelated spirits!
We then headed back to the Hotel and had a quiet drink outside the Hotel overlooking the channel before collapsing into bed.
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Terence
non-member comment
I assume you mean you got \"Venive 2011\" engraved on it, as opposed to \"Valencia\"? Could be an expensive spelling mistake!