Murano

 Saturday, October 4

MURANO

Today, we are going to

Murano and Burano.

The day before, as we were

 exploring Venezia S.L.,

we were at

Piazza San Marco.

St Mark's Square,

the heart of Venice.

St Mark's Basilica

and Doge's Palace

are here at this square.

We spotted a small booth

selling tickets to the

2 small islands.

So yesterday (Friday),

Bryan checked at the booth,

and the lady there said to be

at that booth by 9.30am

 tomorrow to get our tickets.

 The ferry will leave at 10am. 



We timed ourselves to get

back to the train station

from that booth.

About 35 minutes.

At normal pace.


So the plan was to leave

our bags at the locker

by 9am (opens at 9am)

and make our way to the booth.

At faster pace.

We should be at the booth

by 9.30 am.



Venice is like a maze.

It's not easy to find your way

around without the

walking app.


I told Bryan we have to be

the 1st ones at the locker-place.

We have to wait there

by 8.30am.


So on Saturday morning,

our alarm went off

at 6.15am.

We got ready.

Checked out at 7.05am.

Walked to the train station.

Arrived at 7.30am. 

Bought tickets,

hurried to platform

and was on the train

by 7.45am.


Arrived at Venezia S.L.

just before 8am. 


The locker-place is right outside

 the train station.

We went to the nearest cafe

for breakfast. 

Just around the corner from

the locker-place.

We ordered ...

ate our eggs, beans and buns ...

drank our coffee ...

used their facilities ...

Bryan attended to the bill.

I went to the locker-place.



Oh, darn. 

There was a Chinese guy

 standing there with

2 large bags.

It was 8.45am.

So we were No. 2 in line.

That's gonna delay us a bit.


The door opened sharp

at 9am.

The Chinese guy went in. 

Came out.

Bryan went in.

Came out.

9.15am

We hurried over to

St Mark's Square.

We arrived at the booth

by 9.45am.

There was a line of tourists

getting their tickets. 

I snapped some photos of the ...

... environment.

It was a Saturday.

More crowd.

Yayyy!

A few minutes after this photo,

the tour guide came and

 ushered us all to follow her.

That's the tour guide with the

yellow umbrella.

We were right behind

the two girls.

At the dock.

I spotted the numbers

at the back of the

tour guides jacket.

1924

19  42

8  21

44   21

Let's see our ticket numbers.

26241     26240

15                14

4                  41


441  /  144


Yesterday's Q number.

She turned just as I clicked.

Time to embark.

We went up to the upper deck.

It was quite chilly. 

The air was icy cold.

Don't take yet.

Wait for the guy to move away.

Wait wait.

Not yet.

Okay.

Now.

Let me adjust my scarf.

Ok. Ready.

Let me selfie.

Ready?  Smile!

The ferry moved out from the

 dock, a few minutes past 10am.

I was really glad to have

 the scarf.

My hands felt like ice

but the neck is all warm.

The view is ...

... simply ...

... breathtaking.

You just wanna capture ...

... the moment ...

... forever.

Look at that sleek liner.

I think everyone ...

... is looking at it too.

So elegant.

There's just something about ...

... watching boats ...

... go by.

Feels so serene.

We saw some ...

... structures ...

... along the way.

30 minutes boat ride.

It was 10.30am. 

Marinella 1

Return to the ferry

by 11.30am.

We are now at the ...

... glass factory.

To be a maestro of glassmaking ...

... you have to be ... 

... an apprentice ...

... for more than ...

... 50 years!

It took only a few minutes to get

 from no shape ...

... to this.

It looks brown because he

 threw a lit paper in.

Not sure why.

Wow!

Just by pulling

and pinching

 and turning

and tweaking

the melted glass,

this elegant prancing horse

is born. 

We went out ...

... to explore.

So cute, the set up.

Opposite side of cafe.

We like this cafe ...

... so, we are taking ...

... a few photos here.

Wished we had more time.

A cappuccino here would be ...

... just perfect.

Okay, let's go already.

Reminded us of Bear.

Even the doggie is taking a stroll.

There were so many ...

... cute little glass crafts ...

... you could spend ...

... half a day admiring ...

... the intricate beauty ...

... of them all.

I was fascinated ...

... and totally mesmerised ...

... with the beautifully crafted ...

... glass crosses. 

I remember Father

(back home) ...

... mentioning that ...

... we shouldn't use ...

... our cross ...

... for decorative purposes.

Besides, Jess reminded ...

... not to get souvenirs ...

... from Murano.

Rome has plenty ...

... more selections.

Bryan had to scroll back

to her text to remind me.

Haha.

Look at this quaint ...

... little fishing village.

This little island ...

... of Murano ...

... has been famous ...

... for the past ...

... 800 years ...

... for its glassmaking crafts.

This is unlike any ...

... fishing village ...

... we have ever seen.

Absolutely tranquil.

Does wonders ...

... for the ...

... heart, mind and soul.

It's hard to turn your back ...

... on this ...

... sweet ...

... heartwarming ...

... chicken soup for the soul ...

... fishing village.

Time truly flies ...

... when you are ...

... having fun ...

... as the saying goes.

It's time to turn back.

Not before taking ...

... a few more ...

... snapshots ...

... for my

Adventure Book

waiting back home.

Bye for now, Murano.

Souvenir from here,

we will get from Rome.

We have to get back

to the ferry.

Burano next!

Original Murano glass souvenir from Rome.