Island Hopping

Today we purchased a 36 hour vaporetto ticket for 25 Euros each which gave us unlimited use during that time. So we took a boat over to the little island of Murano. Here it is famous for its hand blown glassware and if your lucky you'll find a free demonstration of glass blowing.

Vaporetto to Murano island

Murano island - Venice

3 meter high glass sculpture

While some of the glass products were lovely, especially the larger and plainer pieces which commanded big ticket prices I personally found most of the products, particularly the smaller pieces to be gaudy and not my style at all.

Murano's Shopping area

Some of the less Traditional Glass Products

Glass Blowers in Action

With the searing and unbearable heat and only glass shop after glass shop to look at, we found ourselves ready to leave Murano after only forty five minutes, so we sat by the shade of the lighthouse and waited for the next vaperatto to take us to the even smaller island of Burano.

Murano lighthouse

Unfortunately everyone else had the same plan and so we were packed in like sardines, the only views we had for the next 30 minutes were bodies and armpits.

Armpits everywhere, and it was over 35 degrees!!!

Burano is a tiny island know for its fine lace work and very colourful houses. It was very quaint and pleasantly smelt of the sea.

Typical Burano Canal Setting

The Popular Restaurant Area

Pretty Burano - brightly painted houses

After a brief walk round and many happy snaps later we decided that lunch had to be fish and chips, unlike the rest of the island which was delightful, lunch was an expensive disappointment.

Lunch at Burano - 31 Euros... ouch!

Our choice of Cafe

Even though we had had such a good time, the day had been unpleasantly hot and so when we returned to Francesca's house we decided to stay home for dinner. I prepared a typical plate of antipasta from the ingredients purchased at a nearby market that afternoon - cantaloupe, parma ham, pickled vegetables, cheese and crusty bread.

 

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