Murano was at the top of the itinerary today. The place built its reputation with its glassmaking industry. We were excited to tour its factories and observe the craftsmanship.

It was raining when we woke up. The sky was thick with dark, heavy clouds. The rain was falling heavily in irregular intervals. Hotel Principe was serving breakfast early and we took advantage of it. We were soon heading out the door as we were double checking for our umbrellas and ponchos. The day’s tour of Venice will be guided in contrast to our exploring Venice yesterday.

The wind was tossing the waters off the Grand Canal. It was high tide. The locals though were thankful. There was better control of flooding after their government began implementing a billion Euro project that controlled the level of the water during high tide. There was no flooding this time.

We arrived on time at the dock in front of Stazione de Venezia Santa Lucia. The morning’s destination with Gate 1 Travel was the famous Venetian glass factory at Murano. The boat ride took forty minutes and was running slower due to the tossing waters. Along the way, the characteristic Venetian buildings on the water’s edge were noticeable. Photographing the buildings was only possible from inside the boat. Standing outside the boat was forbidden lest the danger of getting tossed overboard.

The master didn’t disappoint when he began demonstrating his skill on glass blowing! He made it look so easy! The tour guide for Industria Vetri Artistici Ferro-Lazzarini at Murano was explaining a little bit on the history and artistic technique of glass making as we were watching. Afterwards, we were left to tour different rooms showcasing the different artistic products on the shelf. It felt like a quicker boat ride back to the Island of Venice.

Walking the inner streets of Venice with a tour guide felt satisfying to me. I felt like I was appreciating the finer points of the city more. We began seeing the different ethnic influence that has been molding the character of the city since its inception. From the outside, Venice was looking like a homogenous city. In reality, the composition was a multitude of people that has made it home and continue influencing its character.

It was our last day to spend time in Venice. We were headed to Florence the next day and we expected to see some Italian countryside while riding the train.

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