Venice for 2 Days

So have been in Venice for 2 1/2  full days, the most I can say is that no sane person can read the maps you can buy and no matter how hard you try you never take the same route to any one place.  I have loved getting lost though as there is always something new to see.  Today I took one of the public transportation boats to Murano.  I got on the wrong boat, I was on the boat 4.2 which stops several times instead of taking boat 3 which does not stop.  By the time I arrived at Murano I was literally almost sick to my stomach as the boat was overloaded with people and I believe was dragging on the bottom of the canals.  Although it was stopping in six different ports in Murano I jumped off on the first one that said Murano.  I did not care how far I needed to walk I just wanted off so my head did not have to hear the grinding of the engines any longer.  As soon as I got off there was a person directing people to the glass blowing factory – of course I followed the directions.  There was no demonstration in progress as whatever the artist was working on was a secret and it was just a ploy to direct you to their showroom.  I walked around about an hour after that and ended at at showroom at the end of the street that was recommended to me by Rocky from Culture Discovery.  The showroom was pretty small and the artist did have some great pieces but a little higher priced that what I had seen.  If you love cats then this is the place for you.  He had started doing some interesting pieces with birds which I bought two.

I headed back to the Doge’s Palace – for the laymen that is Ducal Palace – I only mention it because I spent 1 1/2 days looking for it in Venice until I read a book about Venice.  I spent over an hour in there which was fabulous!  The paintings and golden staircase were incredible.  Didn’t much like the whole winding through the prison part – another couple got lost and headed back my direction I told them the arrows were pointing in the opposite direction and they said “well we just came from there and ended here” – “you don’t think someone closed one of the doors do you?”

As soon as I got out of the Doges Palace the San Marcos Square was still pretty full but it was starting to rain.  I had decided not to carry my umbrella in my bag because you can always buy a cheap one for 3 euros.  Well the cheap one cost me 5 euros and when I opened it up it sliced my thumb.  So I stood in line for the Campanile for about 10 minutes trying to stop my thumb from bleeding while holding my umbrella.  Finally I decided I could go early in the morning and be one of the first in line for the Campanile so I left to find a pharmacy to buy a bandaid.  I walked for about 30 minutes with no luck other than seeing a lot of high priced jewelry stores and ended up back in San Marcos plaza which seemed very very empty because several people scattered with the rain.  I noticed the line for the Campanile was short so I decided to go ahead to ride to the top.  While I was at the top of the Campanile which by the way is everything they say with wonderful views of all of Venice.  The bells started to ring.  Let me tell you first hand if you have ever wondered what is sounds like to be in a bell tower when the bells start to ring it is VERY VERY VERY LOUD.  It has been at least 4 hours and my brain is still feeling the effects.

Dinner tonight looked beautiful – however the spiny lobster was cooked past the point of no return.  I literally took two bites, ate the mussels and tomatoes around the lobster, finished off the bread basket and drank a small bottle of Chianti.  It was nice of the waiter to discount the meal but he should have taken the lobster off the charge completely.

Headed to Florence and Tuscany tomorrow.  I am really excited about Florence because Venice had several shops with leather goods from Florence.  I decided to wait until I get there to purchase.  On Saturday I join Culture Discovery for Chianti Wine in Tuscany – I can’t wait!!!!