Today was our second full day in Venice and it promised to be full of sunshine and very warm once again. Because we’ve been to Venice before we have already done a lot of the ‘must do’s’ such as St Marks, The Campanile, The Rialto etc etc. So we wanted to do something a little different. We decided on a little trip over to the island of Burano, famous for its lace making and colourful houses. We could have gone to the other famous island, Murano, that’s the one famous for its glass making but it seems to be more industrial and perhaps less picturesque.
After breakfast at the hotel overlooking the canal we set off determined not to overdo it quite as much today. We’d managed 21000 steps yesterday so a sit down on a water bus would be nice! We walked upto Fondamente Nove to catch the No 12 water bus. It only took about 15 mins with the aid of Google maps to guide us through the narrow alleys, over bridges and through lovely piazzas. It was very much easier than 20 years ago when trying to find our way around, with a good old map, was completely pointless. We arrived at the Bus Stop and easily found platform A where the No 12 leaves from. There was already quite a queue gathered and we only had to wait about 10 mins for the 11-10am bus. It arrived on time and on we all got. Jane and I got seats next to a window but it was really hot and sticky on the boat and very little breeze. The trip takes about 40 mins stopping at Murano first and then a smaller island where only the locals got off. The views across the lagoon are very pretty and it was exciting to see the mountains as a backdrop as we will be heading towards those next!
Once we landed on Burano it seemed very pleasant and our priority was to buy some water. Then we wandered with the crowd through Lace Alley down to the colourful canal side houses and shops. It was really pretty and relatively quiet. We took loads of photos and found some quiet corners. We decided to have a beer at a small cafe by the canal side and I did a sketch of some of the houses. After a while a nice Canadian couple got chatting to us. He’d seen me painting and wanted to take a picture of me and what I’d been upto! He said he’d never seen anyone else doing what I was doing. Basically, using collage, paint and a pen to create a colourful scene! It turned out they were newly Weds on their honeymoon. Bless.
Once I’d finished we wandered around a bit more and by now it was much busier. We popped in some of the shops and bought some glass items but I didn’t buy the colourful 170 euro shirt I tried on. We walked into the main square which we’d managed to miss earlier. It was full of colourful cafes and absolutely packed with people. It was all a bit much so we decided it was time to catch the bus back! We’d have stayed for another drink but no one was interested as they only want to serve you lunch.
So back on the No 12 we went…it was handily waiting for us. Much more crowded on the way back but we still got seats next to the window. There was a medical emergency part way across when the young chap sitting behind Jane cut his finger and then passed out at the sight of his own blood! He looked terribly unwell and his poor girlfriend did a great job of trying to cool him down. The staff on the boat were also helpful and arrived with a huge plaster for what was actually a very small cut!
Back at Fondamente Nove we headed towards the Rialto Bridge as Jane wanted to make sure we saw it whilst we were here. It got busier and busier as we got closer and we found a couple of great Instagram spots to take photos.
Afterwards we found a cafe for another beer and a sketch down below the bridge and looking across the Grand Canal. It was complete madness all around with people, pigeons, menacing gulls and boats big and small racing around but it was nice to escape for a moment into my paints!
Now it was time for something to eat and we had our tea in reverse! Starting with pudding , we joined the queue for gelato at ‘Suso’. If people were prepared to queue that much then surely it must be good. Apparently it is ‘an unmissable ritual’ when in Venice. Or so their website says. They don’t have ice cream flavours they have ‘proposals’. Well my proposal was a ‘Mimosa’ which was Ricotta cheese, lemon cream and butter shortcrust pastry chunks. I scored it 9/10 delicious but surely could still be surpassed. Jane chose a ‘Sosu’ proposal which was toffee, caramel and more caramel and toffee. She scored it 8/10 , very good gelato but no surprises!
Then we moved on for our main course to a tiny place called ‘Baci and Pasta’. A takeaway pasta and gnocchi place. Family run it offers 4 different types of pasta, 3 types of gnocchi and then 3 different sauces. It’s all freshly made and served to you in a cardboard container. We stood at the window and ate ours as all the young people had taken the perches at the base of the fountain outside in the piazza! Very tasty it all was too!
After this we skipped home to our hotel ready to spend the rest of the evening chilling out in our lovely air conditioning. We need an earlier night as tomorrow we are catching the train to Lake Garda.
Where shall we go to next? 