Swiss Adventure: In the City of Glass: If you break it, you buy it!

"The Heath" and I caught an early morning flight to Venice from Rome and started our day at Doge's Palace.

Courtyard of Doge's Palace

We love learning!

Heather was nervous for the lady who had to wear this.

Getting cheeky

I think Chris was a little nervous about us being on our own, but how much trouble could we get into?

Our room wasn't quite ready when we check in so we went back in the afternoon to have a little rest time.

The gentleman was kind enough to "drop" our luggage at our room for us. Okay, so he dropped it out a window to a little courtyard where we picked it up and took it to our room which was in an adjoining building. Our room happened to be over the theater and the hotel was in the same building as a glass factory.

I have to say one of the benefits of two ladies traveling together (especially in Italy) is that you get treated pretty well. We went to the glass factory and asked if they had any demonstrations that we could watch. A tour group was late so they invited us in and we had a private demonstration!

After the demonstration, we headed a little ways off the beaten path and had some lunch. Since the weather had cleared up a little bit, we decided to take a gondola ride that afternoon.

Our Gondolier was Marco. Heather also helped him paddle us around as she serenaded us! What a treat!
Here is the link for Heather singing: Heather singing in Venice.

After our fantastic gondola ride, we hit the town and went into almost every single shop. We shopped and shopped and shopped...

Ciao, Bella!

Grand Canal from back side of Rialto Bridge. Gorgeous evening! This is by my favorite Murano glass jewelery shop (Rialto 79). Family owned business and we watched while he made earrings for Heather to match her necklace and bracelet she picked out.

Of course after all that shopping we were starving again. We walked back to San Marco Square to pick a place for dinner.

Always in search of the greatest lasagna!

We passed on the free bellinis given to us, but told the kitchen staff they could bring us tiramisu if they wanted to!

After dinner we strolled around San Marco listening to music, laughing ourselves silly and dancing with each other.

The next morning I made us get up super early so we could be at the Basilica when it opened.

We lined up 30 minutes before it opened and we were still about 30th in line. Check out the line 10 minutes before opening!

After the Basilica, we headed up the Campanile for an aerial view of the island. We knew this day would be crazy busy after counting 5 huge cruise ships in the dock.