Venice, Italy March 16 and 17, 2022

Venice is spread over 118 small islands connected by canals, artful footbridges and connected to the mainland by a causeway. There are several ports, our ship docked in Fasina, the industrial part of Venice. Ships used to be able to dock at the Grand Canal right in the heart of Venice, however that is no longer permitted for several reason. One that a couple of years a ago a cruise ship lost control and ran into another causing serious damage, plus having mega cruise ship dock in the Grand Canal truly is incongruent with the Venetian ambiance.

We were there definitely in the off season and it was already crowded. I would hate to be there during high seasonal. It was a cold day, high 52 degrees, the sun did not come out, but since out tour was a lot of walking and we were all bundled up we did just fine. Since we were not docked in the heart of Venice our tour started with a 30 minute bus ride to the Cornoldi Pier where we boarded a boat and met our local guide. The boat brought us to the Grand Canal where we then started out walking tour. We passed many impressive buildings, churches, birthplace of Marco Polo, the medieval shipyard, we crossed the famous Rialto Bridge, saw St Marks Square and St Marks Basilica, walked through many passageways that only few will ever visit, crossed many bridges over numerous canals, it was truly amazing. When you think that Venice is essentially a city built on wooden platforms supported by hundred of thousands wooden posts, you just have to marvel at the ingenious engineering skills and knowledge. First the type wood is impervious to water, second the salt interact with the wood turning the wood-pilings into stone. Incredible. There are no cars as there are essentially no streets. You get around on foot or by boat.

Unfortunately no independent exploration was permitted so we were unable to linger at any of these beautiful and fascinating places. And our shopping opportunities were limited. Oh I saw some really lovely Italian fashions. Though I also saw some rather bizarre and extremely expensive clothing and shoe stores. All the famous brands were there Gucci, Prada, Polo and so on. The Italians do like to dress very fashionably and how they walk in their spike high heels on these couple stone and extremely uneven passageways is beyond me.

On our second day, the weather was a bit friendlier, though still no sun, again a bus ride to another pier where we picked up a boat that took us to the nearby islands of Murano and Burano. Murano is know for its glass-making that dates back to 1291. We visited one of these glassmaking enterprises and got a demonstration on how these pieces of art are created. It can take up to 30 years of apprenticeship before one is considered a master craftsman. Very impressive. We were given some time to admire the glass art and to purchase if so desired. Back on the boat and on to the next island of Burano, an absolutely charming village with brightly colored houses. Every person’s home is painted a different color and legend has it it was done so that the fishermen when they came home at night would be able to find their homes. There we also visited a Lace shop, got a very brief overview into lacemaking and again given a chance to admire and or purchase their creations. It was truly a cozy little village where everyone knows each other. Back on the boat to the another neighboring island for a wonderfully tasteful lunch. We walked about 10 minutes along a canal before we got to the restaurant. After lunch our boat took us back to the Grand Canal. From there we walked along the waterfront a while, then through narrow passageways towards St Marks Square where we boarded a gondola and went for a lovely 30 minute ride through various canals, Your really get a totally different perspective from the gondola, so definitely a must do when in Venice. What amazed me was the skillfulness of the gondolier, because it can get pretty congested. It’s not easy to be a gondolier, the licenses cost around 400,000 Euros, though they are passed on from generation to generation; and a gondola, one of those pretty black ones, cost around 60,000 Euros. However, they make good money. A ride for 30 minutes is 80 Euros with a maximum of 4 people and they generally work a 10. I don’t know if they romantic night-time gondola rides cost the same. If you want to be serenaded with a song, that is extra.

I am glad I experienced the city of Venice. Should I come back I would like to experience it when it is not so cold and the inhabitants put out all the flowers and greenery. In March it is just cold, too much concrete, and too little greenery. I am not a city girl, so I missed the countryside and parks.

I’ll let my pictures tell the rest of the story.

One of the many canals in Venice.

Approaching Venice by boat.

Promenade along the Grand Canal

One of the many canals and church towers.

And yes this church tower is leaning as are most of the church towers in Venice. Venice is slowly sinking.

A tiny roof garden the only bit of green I saw. They tell me in the spring and summer everyone has lots of flower pots and plants adorning their windows and entry ways.

When you need extra space inside your tiny apartments you mount wooden supports and build out your apartment onto the wooden supports.

Rialto Bridge. The biggest bridge in Venice was reconstructed out of concrete after the wooden one burned down. This bridge has stores all along it’s span.

View from the Rialto Bridge.

A tourist gondola gliding through one of the many canals.

The landing at the island of Murano. Murano is known for its glass making enterprises.

We visit one of the glass making workshops and finally get warmed up as the furnace heats up the room.

A craftsman at work.

The showroom, just one of many that were there.

We approach they island of Burano known for its colorful homes and Lace-making.

Yes they are indeed colorful. Every home is painted a different color as to distinguish one owner from the other. Some are very small as the green one in the middle and other more wealthier people have bigger ones such as at the hot pink house. Just love it!!

This is inside a courtyard, it’s laundry day and everyone knows each other.

An inviting cafe, every table had fresh flowers to welcome its guest.

Just another view of the colorful town and one of its bridges.

At one of the Lace-shops, we get to see a lacemaker at work. Interestingly enough various women will work on one piece as the piece will consist over different lace patterns. Each person specializes in one type of lace pattern. Incredible, has to be a labor of love. Although the shop sold mostly lace and crochet items a winter sweater caught my eye, it fit and I bought it.

We depart the island and two white swans bid us farewell.