2000 Déjà-vu - Glass And Lace

The holiday officially starts today! We were up early and managed to get on the bus in good time to make the 9:30 ferry over to Venice. Having previously spent time in the main part of Venice we hurried across to the far end and bought 24 hour water bus tickets to take us out to the islands.

Our first port of call was Muranno. This island’s main industry is glass making and there are several small glass makers that cater for the tourist predominately making small glass animals and other assorted standard souvenirs. Right at the end of the Muranno, on the edge of the canal there is a large windowed warehouse that has 10 showrooms of quality glass sculptures. We were given the grand tour by a salesperson who tried his best to sell us a piece of work, one piece did take our fancy but with a selling price of £2,000 we decided it was well beyond our means. A sculpture on a large glass topped table on a rotating stand with bright lights shinning on it can look very inviting.

From Muranno we travelled across Venice Lagoon to Buranno, the home of Buranno Lace. On the island there is a museum dedicated to the lace style that was only open at certain times and a shop that had a display at the back with many old pieces dating back to Napoleonic times. We stopped for lunch on Buranno, not that we had much choice as we had quite a wait until the next water bus and it was also siesta time. Guzzisue went in search of some lace bobbins and finally tracked some down on our return to Venice.

As we returned to our hotel the wind picked up and a storm broke and the day finished with over an hour of thunder and rain.

1998 Guzzi Goes Home - Venice In A Day?

From where we were staying it was possible to purcase tickets to Venice from the local newsagents. All tickets for public transport have to be bought in advance and punched in a machine once aboard the vehicle. This was a double which meant that we first took a bus ride to a port and from there sailed over Laguna Véneta to St Mark’s Square.

On setting foot at the edge of St Mark’s Square, Ian decided to buy a “Venice in a day” guide. His idea was to see as much of Venice as he could, however, after half an hour of stopping at every corner to study the map his patience was wearing thin as so the guide ended up in his pocket for the rest of the day!

Once away from the tourist trail he began to enjoy exploring the back streets away from the hustle and bustle of the tourist trail. Turning a corner we came across a small courtyard with a café and a group of musicians playing, then a man with a sack truck came into sight singing away. He had a very strong voice that echoed off the buildings and that is the thing I enjoyed best about the day.

We did manage to fight our way across the Rialto Bridge as this was one big tourist trap and we also saw the Bridge of Sighs that runs between the palace and prison.

Around St Mark’s Square things are very expensive but once away from the main trails, as with any city, prices become lower. We also declined a gondola ride as this worked out at £60 for an hour! However we saw what must have been a honeymooning couple complete with a singer and a musician in one. The man looked pleased as punch but I’m not too sure about his partner. Have a look at their photo and make up your own mind. Perhaps My Way in Italian was not a good choice of song.

All three of us agreed that Venice could not be seen in a day and that we would have to return soon.

1998 Guzzi Goes Home - R & R (Repair & Rain)

Travelling south next day we left the mountains behind us and went round the suburbs of Treviso before following the signs for Venice. Ian saw a road sign for a tourist information centre so he pulled in and we asked about a campsite near Venice itself. The lady in the centre advised us to head for Lido di Jésolo as there are some sites in that region.

Unfortunately the information centre was on a duel carriageway so we had to go all the way to the bus station in Venice before we could get any further. Ian then proceeded to travel in circles close to Marco Polo Airport for half an hour before getting on the correct road once again.

Eventually we reached Jésolo Pineta and booked ourselves in to the Villaggio Turistico Adriatico for a few days camping. It was siesta time when we arrived so we could not ride the Guzzi onto the site, but Ian could push it round if he wanted! The offer was declined and we walked around to the swimming pool ares where there was a bar and sat in the shade with a beer instead.

After siesta time the tent was pitched and othen off to the camp shop where a tube of superglue was bought and then back to the bar and Ian had another beer while gluing the rear light lens back together to the puzzlement of other people.

Guzzisue found the laundry area and washed some clothes, however there was no tumble dryer and over our stay the clothes were put out to dry after the morning rain and put back into the tent before the rain came back in the evening, every day! This was because the rain would go inland, reach the Dolomites and bounce back to us later in the day.

The next day was spent exploring the local area. Jésolo Pineta is a small fishing area where the nets are on rigging and placed into the water and then lifted back out. The catch is then sold in the adjacent market.

Walking the opposite way Ian and Guzziesue spent sometime in an amusement arcade enjoying one of their pastimes – pinball. They also spotted these two vechiles hiding in the corners.

This was a laid back day before the onslaught of Venice the next day.

1998 Guzzi Goes Home - Fairytale Castle & Rain

We awoke next morning to the gentle sound of rain. Not to be put off by this after breakfast we decided to go and visit Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau castles.

Neuschwanstein is the castle that Walt Disney based his logo on. It was also used for the film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and can also be seen in the film The Great Escape when Hendley (James Garner) and Blythe (Donald Pleasence) are flying towards the Swiss Alps. Much of the film was shot in the area around Fussen.

Throughout the summer 6,000 visitors visit the castle a day and the guided tours are in English and German. Other languages are available as audio tours. Our guide did well as it was her first tour and quite nervous. On a couple of occasions she did revert back into German but on the whole gave a good detailed description of the castle’s builder, King Ludwig II, and the decour of the rooms. One visitor did grumble about the guide’s lapse into her native tongue, but my friends gave her a tip and told her it would get easier. I wonder if she is still working there?

Two days were spent in and around Fussen and we had nothing but rain. There is only so much looking around shops and churches that a bear and man can stand, even Guzzisue got tired of this! On the second evening Guzzisue asked the question of where to go next, to which Ian replied “Venice” .

“But that’s miles away”, replied Guzzisue.

“No its not. Look”, Ian showed her the map. “It’s just up and over Austria and on the top part of Italy”.

So next morning….