Venice

Grand Canal, Venice

We were up and out today, and waiting for a bus to town, by 9 am.

It cost us 20 bucks (Euros actually) each to get a day's pass on the buses and boats of Venice.  A 24-hour pass that, we were told by our campsite receptionist, had to be validated first, then we could use it.
However, as with a lot of things Italian, not once did we seem to need it!  Rules are made, but then not applied!  For example, the speed on the motorways in roadworks may say 80 km/hour, but no one takes a blind bit of notice.  It's all very carefree.
A bus arrived within about 5 minutes of us waiting, and we jumped on.  The bus driver waved nonchalantly at our bus passes, and we sat down.  He swung the bus round every bend, as fast as he could, and we arrived in Venice by 9.15 am.
The Jehovah's Witnesses were standing at the entrance of the main walkway into the centre of Venice, just like they do in Dartford, or Swanley, Kent.  They stand there with their little trolleys laden with booklets about heaven on earth, but don't engage with anyone.  They just chat amongst themselves!
Soon we had found our way through little back passages (excuse the expression), and were standing on the edge of St Marks' Square!   The 'wow' feeling was real.

St Marks Square, Venice

We mooched about for a bit, soaking up the atmosphere, until we decided to venture into St Marks Basilica. We joined the queue, and ate a biscuit.  Free to get in.  No eating inside, no photos, no phones.  We were allowed to take the camera and phones inside, but no photos inside.
Once inside, it was clearly a different proposition.  No one took any notice of those discretely using their phones to take photos!  Ah, Italy!
The inside of the basilica was basically covered in mosaics.  The floor, the walls, the ceiling, the pillars, - everywhere it was mosaic!  Quite splendid.  I wonder what Jesus would have thought about that?  Hope he likes it.
One thing was sure, they use marble by the shed-load.  The seats, the gutters, the pillars, the steps, everything seemed to be made of marble, rather like we use concrete for paving slabs.  They use marble copiously.
It was free to get in, but if you wanted to see the treasure, go up on the roof, or have a look at some of the artefacts, then you had to pay.  We wanted to go out on the roof.  That cost us 5 bucks each.  They don't tell you that until you have climbed a hundred steps to the cashier who then wants 5 Euros from you!!
Out on the roof, it was grand, overlooking the square.  You could just hear the music from the nearest outdoor restaurant musicians.
Then we had a stroll round the square, and listened to the different quartets playing their music.  Nice!  Jazz!

A bite to eat on the edge of the Grand Canal, and then a cuppa in a cafe (to use the loo!).  No public loos in sight anywhere!  They know how to get your money.  A friendly pigeon felt quite at home inside the cafe.  The cafe owner didn't care.

Then it was off to Murano by boat to see the glass making.
Everywhere was glass shops selling decorative glass products from earrings to lampshades.  Nothing but glass shops.  A few cafes, but otherwise it was all glass.  Sadly we didn't get to see them actually blowing the glass.
The pinnacle of the day was just as we were on our way to catch the return boat to Venice.  We stopped to sit in an open square with trees, and saw a guy with a trolley and a piano case.  He was obviously going to set up a piano and busk.
We stayed to watch what was going to happen.
To our amazement, he put the case up on the piano X-stand, and opened the lid, only to reveal...... wine glasses!
He filled some up with water and set about tuning it all up.  39 glasses in total, arranged in a pattern that only he could decipher.  Large ones at the left, ranging through to smaller ones on his right.
It only took him about 5 minutes to set up, and tune his act.
Then he began to play.
We watched and listened with amazement, as he played popular classical tunes ranging from Strauss to Mozart.
We were well impressed and well satisfied with his end of day contribution to our visit to Venice and Murano.
It was a fabulous and fitting end to our day!
I've tried to upload a short video of this guy.  Apologies if it doesn't work.