Our last day in Italy

Last days are always tough... but it's time to come home and get back to reality.

I had to snap a pic of a the view of the roofs from our room in Venice, along with the ceiling in our hotel ... it all just screamed "ART" to me... and a couple more pics of churches ...

We took a water taxi from the hotel this AM and got a beautiful ride through the canals of Venice to the train station, where we boarded a high-speed train (153 MPH) to Rome.  Their trains, while not state-of-the-art (go to Japan or Germany for that)... are still light years ahead of anything we've got in the US.

Here's what 153 MPH looks like while travelling through the northern Italian countryside:

Our room at the Sheraton in Rome is OVER THE TOP. Jeff is a "frequent flyer" with SPG, and they gave us this massive suite - top floor - fruit, cheese, wine waiting for us (Italian Chianti is wonderful).  There was just one thing a bit.... off.... with the room.  There was this ONE PIECE OF ART.....

Murano & Burano

With only one full day left in Venice, Kevin and I decided to visit the islands off of Venice, specifically Murano and Burano. Murano is known for beautiful, colorful glass which you see throughout Venice. Burano is primarily known for it's lace, however it also has colors to rival Murano's glass, though not in a form you'd usually expect. 

After leaving the hotel, we decided to do a quick morning visit to St. Mark's Square, which was near to where we would catch the public boat to Murano. As we approached the square, a very handsome Italian gentleman asks if we're interested in visiting Murano. He tells us he'll put is in a water taxi which will take us to the island for free, we get a tour of the glass making factory, and a tour of the showroom with no obligation to buy. Kev and I gave each other the same look, "is this guy for real?" After confirming he wasn't a gypsy, we asked what's the catch. It turns out the Venice Chamber of Commerce does this as a way to promote Murano and it's glass from all the fakes throughout Venice. We're in!

After boarding the private water taxi, the driver got us to the other side of Venice by driving through the various canals. I'm not sure we'll need a gondola ride anymore! We get to the island and are greeted by a representative from the factory who escorts us past the people who were already there waiting to get in, introduces us to our private guide, and escorts us into a private glass blowing demonstration. The glass artist created a beautiful horse in 2 - 3 minutes. Very cool!

Next was the showroom tour. Unfortunately, pictures are not allowed in the showroom due to copyright issues. The place is a trip with colorful, creative glass objects in 6 - 7 rooms, everything from drinking glasses and wine glasses, to vases, to chandeliers, to artwork, to the awesome wine decanter we bought (the only pic we were allowed)! 

Then we caught a public boat to Burano, the island of colorful houses. Aside from the intricate lacework that the island is known for, it's also a fishing village with "the best seafood pasta in Venice" according to our guide at the glass factory. Years ago, the wives of the town took to painting their houses very bright colors (blues, greens, reds, magenta!) so their husbands could find the right house. The story says it was because they'd be out to sea for so long, they'd forget which house was there's. What I think the unofficial story is, is that the "all the houses look the same" excuse was used a few too many times!

Sleepy on the way to Burano.

Buon Compleanno Sis!

Wishing my sister , Julie, happy birthday in Italian - Buon Compleanno! From Venice with love, Jeff

Venice is special for me as it was one of the last places my dad visited before his dementia really started kicking in. I remember his enthusiasm when he showed me the pictures he took and now I understand why he was so passionate about this city.

Here are a couple pics from the Peggy Guggenheim modern art museum to celebrate another year around the sun for Julie. And a toast to you, Dad, from Venice. A more narrative post coming next.

Lots more Venice pics

As seen from the ship, during our sail-in Friday AM

The next pics are shots taken during our random wander through Venice before the day got too hot and crowded.

This is the view from our hotel room

St. Mark's Square after dark - orchestras playing on either side, absolutely lovely.

St. Mark's Basilica

One of the Orchestras

St. Mary's Cathedral

Venice

Amazing. Crowded. Remarkable. Hot, sultry and humid... And with alternating awesome/awful odors.  There will be many more pics we took on our first walkthrough yesterday ... We need to get in our room first... But here are a few from today's wanderings taken on the phone camera.

Peggy Guggenheim museum - Venice

Skip this post of you don't like modern art... This collection, in Peggy Guggenheim's house. Blew us away.

Last day on the ship

We are now docked in Venice, and tomorrow we leave the ship. We spent about 3.5 hours in Venice this am before the crowds became intolerable. So tonight was a bit melancholy. Tomorrow when we get real internet, Venice pics.

Grand dining room Lalique chandelier

More awesome ship art