Second and Last Full Day in Venice

 Today we walked to Piazza San Marcos… a little later than we had planned so it was starting to get crowded.

 Hey, Rialto Bridge again, but this time much less crowded.

 The girls in the piazza in front of Basilica di San Marco

 and beside Campanile a Loggetta di San Marco.

 Just beside that is Palazzo Ducale, Doge's Palace. The basilica had a long line, so we made our way to see if the palace line was any shorter. At that point we got highjacked by a Murano glass tour guy, which wasn't bad as  that was the next thing on our list. We got a water taxi, a gorgeous mahogany boat, free (well, I'm sure the glass mark-up covered the boat). 

 Here's the girls with Basilica Santa Maria della Salute as a backdrop,

 and me with San Giorgio Maggiore as a backdrop.

 The taxi meandered down small canals before going directly to Murano.

 Check out the reflection in the top of the boat.

 Here the girls watch the artisan glass blower. He apprenticed for 15 years before working for himself. He could make anything. After he made a piece, he would put paper in it and let it catch fire to show how hot it was. For a production piece, it must be put in an electric oven and cooled slowly or it will spontaneously shatter.

 And the vaporetto ride back to Venice.

 The girls (and me) are starting to get worn down a little. They are doing good, but you can tell we have done a lot and covered a lot of ground. I'm not sure how much more we will do in Venice other than just enjoy. What do I mean? I'm typing this on a small desk, beside a large window that is open and covered by a sheer lace curtain blowing in a nice gentle breeze. The weather is practically perfect. I can see the canal just outside and about 10 feet below. Beyond the canal is a small walkway and restaurants. Periodically a boat eases by the apartment. You can hear the constant lapping of water and the background of Italian conversations and the clinking of glasses. Just sitting here is quite an experience.

Ciao!