Today’s Schedule
Breakfast: On board.
Morning: Today we set off with your Group Leader to the lagoon islands of Murano . Murano is famous for its glass work and today we will enjoy a glass blowing demonstration at a local workshop. Then joining our Group Leader on a walking visit of this island steeped in ancient tradition. Later we head back to Venice where your Group Leader's can lead you on a further exploration of the city. We can choose to visit the Rialto area, or perhaps take a ride on a Gondola or vaporetto to Lido Island!
Lunch: On board.
Afternoon: Free time. Get in our last minute shopping or wander the canals and bridges. Return on board in the evening for dinner.
Dinner: Farewell dinner on board.
Lodging: CroisiEurope MS Michelangelo
My Observations
After breakfast, we get a ride in a large size water taxi to take us to the glass factories of Murano. We come for a demonstration of glass artwork at Ferro & Lazzarini Fornace, the same place we visited 2 years ago. Very talented glass artisans and the finished pieces are very beautiful.
http://europeforvisitors.com/venice/articles/murano_the_glass_island.htm
http://www.unospitedivenezia.it/eng/evento.php?id_area=9&id_cat=118&id=2110
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88cdap6hxT0
We get back to the ship and view the menu for the remainder of the day. Menu is on-screen with details in French and English. Ah today, Margret de Canard – Duck’s Breast. For dessert, fruit pie.
After the meal, decide to spend free time walking back to St Marks Square. First stop though – Hotel Danieli. The location for the movie – The Tourist with Angelina Jolie and Johnnie Depp. I saw the movie awhile ago, so don’t remember the details others than lots of boat ”chase” scenes. Well, you can’t have car chase scenes on these 130 islands – can you?
http://www.danielihotelvenice.com/
http://www.starwoodhotels.com/luxury/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=72&language=en_US
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hotel_Danieli
The lobby is absolutely gorgeous. After reading details find it is a combination of 3 palaces. The stairway going up is truly something that you might – no, for sure – will see in a movie.
From my visit there, realizie I feel out of place without an afternoon to sit in the adjacent lounge and sip fancy cocktails. I am off to walk another 5 minutes to St Marks Square. Again, I study the same columns of yesterday and continue to do so on another nearby buildings. The folks who paid for all this had a great deal of wealth. Even when I leave Venice, find many banks around Italy with Venice in the name.
I start on my way back to the ship and notice a few other luxury yacht that are dockside. One is the Irana Vu from Split Croatia. At least that is where it is registered. Another, even larger one, is registered in the British West Indies. From the way it is deck out, think it either belongs to the CIA or some other countries spy agency. Hey, it’s my story, so I can make up whatever scheme I want.
http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=1810735
I get back aboard our ship and go to the lounge are where we will have champagne with the captain and crew, as this is our last full day with them. Tomorrow, we are taken by bus to the Venice airport.
Again, a wonderful dinner. I know I have added a few pounds/kilos. For sure will need to get back to a normal intake of probably half the calories we have been served. No, I could “waste” the food. Instead – added it to the waist (-:
Photo 1 - See. We get to observe the glassblowers at work.
Photo 2 - Do. We get to shop at the glass factory showroom. I saw one piece that was valued at over $200,000.
Photo 3 - Eat. Did I also say that chef Adam make wonderful desserts (-:
Click here for today's online photo album.
