Mon, Feb 12 Venice:
We've just made it to Florence tonight and finally have internet again, so I can catch up a bit. Venice was fantastic, but a bit tiring walking through the crowds. Plus it was a bit cold - especially after dark. We went to a few of the top spots: San Marco (the Basilica and the Doges' Palace), Santa Maria della Salute, the Rialto bridge, several other churches, and lots of shops along the main streets. ("Street" is a very different concept in Venice. I thought there were narrow streets in Rome, but some of these are hardly wider than our hallway!) We never got around to taking a gondola ride, but we rode the public water buses a fair amount. I got some good night shots Saturday night. Sunday we saw HUGE crowds in San Marco plaza and around the waterfront as we went to the TI (tourist information) to get info about going to Murano. Friday was the start of Carnivale (Venice's version of Mardi Gras) and we saw some amazing costumes. Don't know how soon I will get any posted, but I got many good photos.
Sun late afternoon and again early today we went to Murano, the island where all the glass factories are. On the way back today, we took a different water bus route, missed the stop at Murano, and ended up going way across the lagoon to Burano (the island that specializes in lace making). The Rick Steves travel books say the best thing to do in Venice is get lost. They were really right because I'd never have chosen to go to Burano. But it was a FANTASTIC experience. It's small, quaint and quiet. The sun came out just after we got there, and I got amazing photos. Besides the lace, another characteristic tradition of Burano is that most of the houses and shops are painted in bright colors. This was historically so the fishermen returning in the evening could recognize their house from a distance and head to the right place. It's hugely picturesque and will be some of my favorite photos of the trip.
Murano is also quieter than Venice, though larger and busier than Burano. The glass shops are incredible. Zillions of different things of every conceivable design from antique to modern, traditional to crazy. Pat fell in love with a somewhat contemporary chandelier with 5 lights with strikingly colored globes. So it's being shipped back home and will replace the ugly thing over our breakfast table.
It's almost 1:30 am here, so I better get to bed. I'll pick out a couple of photos to post.