This picture breaks my heart. On one of our many meanderings through Venice, we happened upon a lovely piazza, perfect for a rest. This little hungry dog scampered up to my dad, who has a soft spot for the little ones. Before we could say “brioche,” Dad was back with one filled with ham. He sat here patiently feeding this little guy by hand, bite by bite. The dog’s collar gave a clue he did have an owner, otherwise I have no doubt we would have been applying for a canine visa.
Racing for “pinks” on the Grand Canal!
Cut the horn – I was here first, Buddy.
Drifting through paradise.
Nowhere to go but over.
The gondola-filled canal right outside our Hotel Doni. We were serenaded every evening.
A slice of life as seen from our hotel window to our neighbor across the canal.
We could have jumped from our hotel window down into this elaborately decorated gondola, a floating sitting room.
Forget the cheese…this woman is gazing intently at the pretty bottles of Limoncello.
What happens when you eat purple pasta??
I always make it a policy to never diet during a trip!
Along one of Murano’s canals.
This morning the skies were a bit threatening and we wasted no time in boarding a vaporetto for Murano. We first wandered down one of the main commerce streets, peeking and poking into several glass shops. We entered one of the ubiquitous glassblowing shops and stood on a raised platform to watch the glassblowers make parts for a large intricate chandelier. Returning to the streets to explore a few more shops, we stumbled into one where a woman was making glass pen stems to be shipped to a gift shop at the California mission, San Juan Capistrano. We had some rain, but managed to avoid getting wet.
The Moorish influence is evident in the shape of the windows.
Burano is no place for black and white photography.
From Murano we boarded another vaporetto and rumbled to Burano. Just as we were coming in to dock, the sky let loose. But just as we got off the boat, the skies started to clear and we walked through a few remaining raindrops to the main piazza. We were ready for lunch and we knew we needed to find a place before the restaurants either all got full, closed, or we got rained on. We found a place that looked promising, and we boldly strode in to claim a table. The restaurant filled up quickly behind us with others having the same idea.
This is my husband, Gino, looking very happy after lunch!
After a good lunch of various fish dishes, we split up from my parents for exploring at our respective paces. Gino and I scoured the island, he taking video at every turn, me snapping photos of every door I could find.
Burano is known for lace-making, but I love it for the vividly colored houses and laundry flapping madly from thick wooden criss-crossed poles. For me, the lace is an afterthought. The house colors thrill me — such boldness! I love them and am so grateful the town mandates the colors be maintained to preserve their history.
It’s never a gray day in tranquil Burano. An island in the Venice lagoon, this multi-colored oasis arose from the marshes and is now home to 7,000.
The lively colors of Burano houses perk up the mottled gray stone and sky. It is impossible to be depressed here.
After a thorough exploration of Burano, we returned to Venezia on the ferry.
This bell tower was built in the 10th century and stood proudly over Piazza San Marco for centuries. One evening in 1902, cracks were noticed on one side of the tower. The next morning it came crashing down in a heap, leaving nothing more than a pile of white rubble and dust. It was rebuilt ten years later and today bravely withstands the assault of wind, rain, and tourists. The view from the lookout is indescribable. Notice the golden angel on the very top. Word is that when the tower crashed, the angel landed upright on the ground below.
Not often does one find the Grand Canal all to oneself.
Melinda takes you to Sicily and climbs a volcano. Wander through narrow, cobbled streets, seaside towns and ancient ruins on the Italian island of Sicily and the Greek Peloponnesian Peninsula at Melinda Trips 2007: Sicily and Peloponnese.
