Day 32,

our first full day in Venice,

 started with breakfast,

 at our hotel,

 cold cuts, croissants, coffee and orange juice,

 and we were on our way to the island of Murano,

 we had our own private taxi,

 which was nice,

 but leaving from the hotel it took a bit of time,

 the canals crowded with gondolas,

 but soon we were in the Grand Canal,

 speeding towards the island,

 it was a bumpy ride with Diana screaming every now and then as out taxi hit the wakes of others,

 we were dropped off,

 our taxi making his way back,

 and this is where we are going,

 Vetreria Bisanzio Gallery and glassworks,

 the gallery was first founded in 1816, and as it was then and still is now a family run business,

 our guide told us that to train family members in the art of glassmaking they are taken through various stages to learn the craft,

 that is for one month or so they produce say vases, the next month animals or birds and so on,

 as it happens this month it is ducks,

 glass is heated,

 and given to the gaffer, who sits in a chair, and is the team leader, he controls the work flow and the team that makes sure he has molten glass when and were he wants it, the term has been hoisted by the film industry to mean the chief electrician in a motion-picture or television production unit, but the origins of the word go before it meant to be an electrician,

with people walking around with molten glass on the end of rods, it is not the place to be if a mistake is made, the skills are handed down from father to son,

 or in this case,

 to daughter,

 watching the progress it is almost like a dance choreography, every one absolutely must be in the right place at the right time,

 the gaffer use scissors to make the ducks wings,

 then reaches for tweezers,

 to add detail,

 the bird finished it is taken to the bench,

 to be attached to the now formed base,

 a final adjustment as the glass has not 100% set and it is finished, well not quite yet, it is placed in a cooling oven which over the next 24 hours will slowly allow the glass to return to room temperature without it cracking,

 tour over we waited outside for our next taxi as this one speed by, just a small point in many shops we had seen glass beads, vases, and other items made labeled Murano glass, but here is the thing, the label then said 'Made in  Italy', if you want real Murano glass make sure the label says 'Made in Murano'! and it will cost a lot more than the ones labeled Made in Italy!

 our taxi arrived and we made our way to the island of Burano,

 a last look at the glass studio,

 and we were on our way,

 again,

 in our oun taxi,

 having dropped us off he was away for his next fair,

 the island is famed for is coloured houses,

 it may look like they are randomly coloured,

 but they are not,

 if you want to paint your home you must must send a request to the government, who will respond by telling you what colours are permitted for the lot that you live in,

 you can imagine all of the hoses painted in just one colour, say magnolia, without some form of regulation,

 we walked along the canals,

 until we reached the main square in the distance,

 where stalls had been set up,

 selling masks and souvenirs,

 as well as shops and restaurants,

 the island as well as being famous for it's brightly coloured homes is also famous for it's lace, we visited La Perla where we were shown how the lace was made, alas a dying art as youngster no long want to make the table cloths and clothes that the island became so famous for,

 we walked across the square,

 past the multi coloured stores,

 it was a shame it was so overcast,

 I can imagine in the summer time the colours would be so intense,

 like these two,

 I feel a fridge magnet moment coming on,

 we went across to one of the shops selling costumes,

 and nice it looked too,

 with a mask as well,

 I quite liked this one, the jester, or is it the fool?

 there were certainly plenty to chose from,

 then we noticed some figures,

 in their gowns,

 and costumes,

 they were apparently going to St. Marks square in Venice,

 and it appears,

 there were a lot of them,

 and were happy to pose with Diana,

 they set off,

 there must have been 8 or 9 all in all,

 and some were only to pleased to stop and have their picture taken,

 after they left we had a look at some of the masks,

 and Diana bought a couple of them,

 much to the delight of the stall holder,

 we made our way back across the square,

 but made a detour,

 along one of the canals,

 that criss cross the island,

 I liked the blue and white striped poles,

 time for some pictures,

 but what pose to take,

 decisions, decisions,

 we continued,

 and chanced upon this gentleman,

 the good news about coming out of season,

 very few people here, but the weather is just a little dull to give the colours the vibrance they get in the summertime,

 another pose for the album,

 and sans Diana,

  this was a nice touch, very few of houses have what you could call a garden,

 so many of the houses,

 have displays,

 of plants,

on their front windows, 

these above,

 are all cyclamen,

and this a heather,

 the end was in sight,

 at the far end of the canal,

 it flows into the lagoon that Venice is in,

 we walked back,

 going a slightly different way,

 through very narrow streets,

 ice cream, yummy, but way too cold,

we decided to have lunch here,

at the Trattoria Raspo De Ua,

a half carafe of house white,

and we were good to go, lasagna and some of my chips for Diana,

pork for myself,

followed by tiramisu,

as you might have guessed there were examples of Murano glass every where,

the restaurant was packed when we arrived, but now we had the place to ourselves,

back to exploring,

a quick look at some of the dress shops,

and over the bridge,

with a smile and a wave,

a jewellery store,

and another very happy shop owner,

all set and ready to go,

and we are off,

with a final look along the canal,

and a final pose,

we make tracks,

and find another colourful street we had not seen before,

the last/first house in the row a shop,

what a lovely town,

we got lost and saw this, I guess the meter is underneath,

when you get lost follow a local, in this case a cat,

who brought us out here, 

and we were still no nearer the ferry terminal, I think,

go forward or retrace our steps?

we went forward and found the jetty,

so out with the gopro,

all aboard the skylark,

and we were soon chugging out into the main channel,

and saying goodbye to the island,

as we make our way back to Venice there are a number of abandoned buildings,

which for some reason have been left for the sea to claim back, 

after being dropped off at the main ferry terminal,

we decided to make our way to St. Marks square,

which took a tad longer than we thought, 

it is at times like these you have to find a map shop,

but they only sold newspapers and magazines,

we knew we were getting close as the streets became more crowded,

a manikin with a gown that you can hire,

and the mask as well,

I know it is an old cliche, but when ever I see someone wearing a red and white striped shirt and a straw hat in a gondolier, I just want to burst out with, 'just one corneto, give it to me!',

we were certainly nearer now with the number of shops, two of Diana's favorites, macaroons,

and chocolate,

there it is, the Rialto Bridge which is the oldest of the four bridges spanning the Grand Canal in Venice, connecting the sestieri (districts) of San Marco and San Polo, it has been rebuilt several times since its first construction as a pontoon bridge in the 12th century,

I love these shop display like this one, it seems static, and is one dimensional,

but it winks at you!

the passageway opened up into another square,

with more shops selling masks,

and more costumers making their way to the square,

cyclamen seem very popular out here,

and who would have thought that a shop that sells just gloves could sell enough every day to pay rent and all of the other bills and pay a wage?

or one that just sell purple, but there it is,

over another of the roughly 400 bridges in Venice, 

all set for the masked ball,

as is this lady,

and this gentleman,

if you are into chess, you can buy sets like these, but for me I  would never take them out of the box for fear of breaking one,

and here we are in the square, 

where the judging will take place,

although still early,

many costumers,

are strutting their stuff,

looking at the hat thank heaven it is not a windy day,

the costumes may be period, but the technology is not,

what a lovely gown,

hair, makeup,

and a Mona Lisa smile,

I just had to say hello,

by now some of the participants,

were walking down the catwalk,

what is that song by the Bangles? walk like an Egyptian,

the moon and the Sun?

and the Queen of Hearts,

the catwalk,

as an onlooker,

with a totally different mask, looks on,

more contestants take to the stage,

roses grow on you,

pirates,

clowns and jesters,

as time is moving on,

everywhere we looked,

more people appeared in dress,

what an effort must have gone into making the hairpiece and then wearing it!

we decided to take a break and freshen up at the hotel, as we were going towards it,

more costumers, 

were heading towards the square,

like these two,

some looking the Dandy,

there were even a few costumers in the hotel bar,

freshened up we were back out, 

looking at some of the shops,

on our way,

to find a restaurant,

for our evening meal,

by now it was dark,

and the show had wound down,

until tomorrow,

then time for food,

seafood spaghetti for Diana,

langoustines, aka Dublin Bay Prawns for myself,

they did not give up with out a fight!

and they were delicious,

creme custard desserts for both of us,

then time to try on the masks that Diana had bought on the island,

I think mine was a bit scary dairy,

look out behind you!

it was a great day out,

the evening sealed with a kiss,

and a kind stranger took our picture,

and with that we made our way back,

out of the now emptying square,

for a nightcap at the bar, and for us, we were off to bed.