Murano: This place is m-a-a-a-gical!

Leaving from Piazza San Marco

Leaving Venice for Murano, a neighboring island

Murano was very calm and quiet.

We caught the end of a glassmaking demonstration at one factory.

The glass is beginning to take shape

Finished product: a rearing horse

We had seen a beautiful black glass gondola in Venice and were hoping to find it for less money here on Murano. Alas, we didn't find one.  I settled for a cheap blue one, like those below.

Pieces of glass vary from very inexpensive to incredibly expensive. One awestruck American couple on their first trip outside the U.S., with whom I struck up a conversation at lunchtime were debating buying a set of 6 goblets--for $600. The wife gushed on and on about the goblets; her whole face just lit up. The husband just rolled his eyes. My input was, "You obviously are in love with these goblets. If you were to buy them back in the U.S., they would be so much pricier than they are here. And do you think you'll be coming back here anytime soon?....." I wish I knew if they ended up getting them.

The couple was also very interested in our ex-pat life and, as many people have done, told the kids how lucky they were to be able to travel to such amazing places and what a wonderful experience this was for the them....I have to admit that moving home to the U.S. and being "normal" again will be anti-climatic.

At one point walking along a canal, a woman exited a store, turned to her husband and said in American English and sounding just like a Disney princess, "This place is m-a-a-a-gical!" Once she was far enough away, the kids and I just howled and howled. It was so sweet, but she did sound just like Gisele from Enchanted. I told the kids, "I am so entitling my blog entry on Murano 'This place is m-a-a-a-gical!'"

We ate sandwiches in the shadow of The Church of Santa Maria e San Donato, one of oldest churches in the Venetian lagoon. Dating from 1040 AD, it is known for its twelfth century Byzantine mosaic pavement and is said to contain the relics of Saint Donatus of Arezzo as well as large bones behind the altar told to be bones of a dragon slain by the saint.

These glass souvenirs were some of my favorites, but, according to a shopkeeper, were works of a particular master on the island. Hence the high price. I'll have to make do with a photo.

Glass Madonna on the corner of a building