Epic Fail...

A few Saturdays ago, we had some awesome plans.  B was all set to go fishing in the Adriatic with some buddies from work.  I was all excited to finally be able to go on my Venetian lagoon tour (which I have already attempted to do twice before).  The plans were set.  We went to bed early.  And then it just all went downhill...

Off to Venice!

B was up and out at about 4 am and was very excited to go fishing.  I had my train all picked out for the quick ride to Venice and my Rick Steves book handy for the best route around the islands.  While on the vaporetto on the way to my first island, I got a text..."Epic Fail."  Thanks to the ominous sky and rough seas, the fishing trip was cancelled.

I continued on my way, since I was already in Venice and headed to the island of Murano.  Murano is most well known for its glass making and that's pretty much all that is on the island.  I stopped in a store to see a glass-making demonstration and wandered around some of the shops.  Foolishly, I thought that the folks of Murano were glass blowers...but in fact, the glass is made in a furnace and they do all sorts of neat things to it (kinda like a bad ass blacksmith).  I was impressed.

The island of Murano

The island is a nice break from crowd-invested Venice.  It essentially has the same things- canals, bridges, boats, shops and churches- without the people.  Even on this July weekend, I found myself on completely empty streets on more than one occasion.

Empty long enough for me to take a reflection picture without people in the way!

After Murano, I planned to try to go to Burano, the lace-making island.  But, that ominous sky that cancelled the fishing trip ruined those plans and I instead headed back to Venice.  On the way, we passed the island that is only used as a cemetery since back in the day (and probably still today) there is no way to really put someone in the ground in Venice...and not much room to put them above it.  We also came in a different direction that the usual Grand Canal route, so I got a good look at the more residential side of the island.

Murano= Venice-Lite

I spent the day in Venice only using the vaporetto to get around.  If you've already seen the streets of Venice, the vaporetto (or water bus) is the way to go.

When in Venice, I find it impossible not to take pictures, even though I've been a number of times...

Venice by water

While the day wasn't a total failure, it came close!  I still have a few more islands to see and more of Venice to explore.  Until next time...

I will return!