Way back in Day 1 of this journal, I wrote this paragraph; “You are probably reading this because sometime in your life you learned to read by using phonics. Before that though, learned about the alphabet. You know, that A-B-C stuff early in your life. So what does this have to do with this adventure? A lot. It all started thousands of years ago, by some folks known as Phoenicians.”
The Greeks then made adaption as they used the Phoenician alphabet, it started with the letter α and ended 24 letters later with Ω. Today we are at the beginning of the end. The end of our – Carol, mine and the 37 additional “tourists” - who were with us in Malta, and the 30 who were part of our Italian adventures.
At 10 a.m., we board a vaporetto for the 20+ minute boat ride to the Island of Murano. Today, we have an opportunity for a glass blowing demonstration at the Ferro Lazzarini Glassworks. It was nice to have a chance to see work being done of various types of projects. The presenter from the factory, looked through the audience to make sure their might NOT be a Chinese visitor, who might be there to steal some ideas of a popular item. We were told that each year, there are fewer glassworks making Venetian glass. He said that many gift shops in Venice sell the Chinese knockoffs because that is what the visitors are interested in – a piece of glass art bought in Venice. Folks back home won’t know where the origin was.
The total population of Venice also decreases by the year and is now near 58,000. Not that long ago it was over 150,000.
"Tourism is a double-edged sword. Each day, more than 60,000 people visit Venice - more than the entire population of the city.”
http://www.dw.de/tourism-overwhelms-vanishing-venice/a-16364608
After reading this, think about my first visit to Disneyworld – Orlando Florida in 1972. The year I moved to Florida with a new job. I was lucky enough to get to Disney, because of a weekend business event from my employer. From our wedding in 1965, the best we could do, for an exotic vacation, was travel by car to go camping. That continued until we left Florida in 1984 and yet for a few more years after coming to Michigan. Would tourism help or hinder Florida? Go figure.
My intent for all these travels was to have a family adventure. Even with the children grown and gone – the love of adventures has continued. It is only in the recent handful of years, that we decided to make use of pre-planned adventures through Road Scholar. We know our physical ability to be part of some of what is offered, is limited by being able to walk. None of us know what situation, physical by misfortune, or medical may change that overnight.
So, as I tell many who have the patience to listen to my stories – sometimes long and maybe with too much detail than they are interested in. This is not to brag about where we have visited, but to encourage them to travel. The more remote or different in culture, the better. We are “one world.” More in similarity than differences.
For us, this journey and adventure is coming to end end – the omega Ω. For you, hope it may prompt you to plan your own adventure, even if to a place in your own city that you said many times – we need to go visit...?
Sorry I got talking too much and not explain what we saw on the boat ride to Murano. I’ll let the additional photos on the link at the end of today - explain.
We did buy a few baubles in Murano. The cost of some items we viewed were in excess of $100,000 US. I don’t think I either want to carry it – too heavy, or put in my luggage and risk being damaged. We were impressed with what we saw. In some ways though, similar to what we saw at Mdina in Malta. Although not as low cost as Chinese made – all was beautiful.
When finished with the glasswork visit, had the option to return back to our hotel, or catch an alternate vessel to visit the nearby islands of Burano and Torcello.
http://www.viator.com/tours/Venice/Murano-Burano-and-Torcello-Half-Day-Sightseeing-Tour/d522-2495ABTOUR2/photos
Hope you liked some of the 180+ photos on this link.
We got back to the hotel area and hope for another stop @ Gino’s Pizzeria. Uh-No – not open until 5 p.m. We go next door , have some goodies, then back to catch a vaporetto that will take us on the same basic route we had this morning to Murano. Except – this time, wanted to make all the stops, from the railway station to Lido Island, with our planned departure point – St. Marks Square.
We just love being on a the water, no matter the size of the craft – could have been a inner tube from an old car, but the weather a bit nippy to have tried that.
The plan was not any particular place, but to walk. You would have thought we had enough after 27 days. Nope. We wandered the Square, getting our last daylight glimpse of the city. Tomorrow – up early for boat ride to airport, than an “alleged” 7 minute walk from where the boat leaves us, to the front entrance at the airport terminal.
Meander, we did. Another somewhat planned stop – Rialto Bridge. Using our sign reading skills from the other day, went street corner to corner looking up to see the sign with arrow pointing the direction. Without any issues, got there. Bought some pastries to fortify the body and back walking. Next direction, was back to the railway station. Many turns at the various street corners that pointed the general direction. Eventually, we are standing next the the Basilica San Simeon, looking across the canal to the railway station.
We are back in enough time to freshen up a bit before our farewell dinner in the hotel restaurant. As with most departures, there were a few teary eyes and comments about missing us. Yes, we will miss the camaraderie of the group too.
Before dinner, our talented group member, Gini, pleased us with this special song. "O mio babbino caro" ("Oh My Beloved Father") by Giacomo Puccini. The event in the aira takes place in Florence, Italy near the Ponte Vecchio Bridge over the River Arno.
Photo 1. We passed a display of Murano glass everyday in the lobby of Hotel Principe
Photo 2. Shows a glass craftsman in one of the several competing factories
Photo 3. Our last evening walk in Venice (-:
Click below for today's online photo album.
https://picasaweb.google.com/magwheel44/2013C2CDay27of28
