Tuesday, October 14, Venice, Murano & Burano. Cruise day 10

The day started out clear and cool, but warmed by mid morning. We took a vaporetto to Murano, where we saw glass blowing and a showroom of magnificent works of glass art from E1400 and up, but the shipping was free! I bought a Murano dolphin for E5, which I'm sure was a huge disappointment to the salesman. We then wandered the streets and took photos of this little town, so removed from the hustle and bustle of Venice. I bought a glass bead necklace (E36) that ties numerous ways. Then it was off to another vaporetto to go to Burano. By this time the sun was high and the air was warm.

Burano is a lace making area, and the artwork in the lace is amazing. One small piece the size of a dinner napkin had 84 different kinds of stitches. The saleslady said it should be used, and if wine or something should get onto it, just toss it into the washing machine! It was about E200! Somehow, I can't see tossing a E200 piece of fabric into the washing machine at any time!

We wandered this town and were fascinated by the well kept colorful buildings, narrow but busy canals, and beautiful displays of hand made lace everywhere. There is talent in this town. There is also a leaning bell tower that leans at the same angle as the more famous Leaning Tower of Pisa, but this one wasn't even a tourist attraction.

We knew we had to get back to the ship, so boarded a "diretto" vaporetto back to St. Marks. It had taken us about 45 minutes to get to where we were, and we expected to be back at St. Marks in ample time to make it to the ship. What we didn't know is that the "diretto" took the long way around, and took 1 hour, 45 minutes, not landing till 3:00! There was no way we could have made it to the ship before it sailed at 3:15.

For our route back, see the yellow line in the photo on the previous page.

Upon reaching the St. Marks area, we split up. Friends and I went to the water taxi, inquiring how much it would require to go to the ship. E70 was the reply-about $100. We didn't have that much € between us, and the taxi men refused to take US dollars. The pointed in the general direction of St. Marks and said there was an automated teller machine "that way." Frustrated and panicky, we turned to see my husband coming from the other direction, motioning us to follow him. God was with us! A few yards away was the Royal Caribbean shuttle for $10 per person! We were saved-although we were the last people to board that very last shuttle, if it hadn't been for a couple of very slow old ladies also aboard that shuttle, we would have been the last ones up the gang plank. What a scare that was! And how grateful we were to have made it to the ship safely!

Important Note: I have always been a strong advocate of planning transportation (with a back-up or two), and then, following the plan. The vaporetto that we took was not in the plan. In fact it didn't appear on the map that I had. Further, on the schedule, there was no arrival posted. Two caution flags that were overlooked. We were very fortunate! Even as we approached the vicinity of San Marco I was mentally formulating a plan, should we in fact, miss the ship.

We then went on the top deck for the "sail away" down the river past St. Marks and other famous landmarks, marveling at the view, taking photos, and feeling very, very fortunate for the opportunity to see this magnificent sight from the deck of a cruise ship - and to be on the ship at all!

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