Dia Diece…Murano and Via Garibaldi

Around the island of Murano there are several large glass sculptures
that are lovely, and would be amazing to see if they are lighted at night.

Today we take a waterbus to Murano the island famed for its hand made and mouth-blown glass. There are hundreds of stores lining the streets by the canals that are all filled with beads, statues of small figures, animals, necklaces and earrings. Others have light fixtures, still others, beautiful and unique works of art. In various squares around town there are huge glass sculptures that catch the sun and transform it by drawing the light into its depths. Stunning.

However, just because you can make something from glass doesn’t necessarily mean you should. The pictures will speak for themselves, how many of these items do you need to see again?

I bought almost nothing, small earrings for Sara and myself. There was just too much and I didn’t want to spend time looking. 

The waterbus ride is fun. We see so much from the boat and it is comforting to feel the rhythms of the water under our feet. At one point an amazing sailboat passes us with one of those huge carbonate masts that act like vertical wings; from the insignia, the sponsor is Corum Energy. It is one of the entrants in the America’s Cup that is in Venice, but the signs had said not until two days after we leave, so this is an unexpected joy to see one of the boats. Just before our stop at Giardini Biennale, we realize the immense size of the park that is near our house. We have just enjoyed a small part of it. This is where art and sculpture and performances take place for the famous Biennale, held, as the name implies, every two years, but these gardens hold ancients sculptures a few of which we view on our way home.

When we get back to the apartment, our intent is to get my sweatshirt and Dennis’ long sleeved shirt and head downtown to eat, but we decide to stay on our street, Via Garibaldi, to eat in a Venetian residential street. We were so glad we did. It was about 6:45 and the pizzerias and trattorias were just opening. The bar was in full swing with not a vacant seat in evidence. On the street it was the dog walking and children’s play hour, older ladies and young women walk arm in arm chatting, there are lots of grandparents with children and families. Neighbours greeted each other, stories are exchanged, shops close after their post-siesta opening, and tourists glance at the menu boards. As we sit at our table, cruise ships pass the end of the street, pushed by tugs out to sea. We love how alive our street is and don’t regret for a minute not going “downtown”.