Day 13 - Venice Continues

We DID go to the rail station, but decided instead of heading into Venice, we journeyed over to the neighboring island of Murano where they make the famous glass. Many of the shops weren’t open just yet… and we zigged when we should’ve zagged when we exited the traghetto… but we eventually wound our way around to the “main street” of Murano and walked up the “alleyway” of shops in search of real Venetian/Muranoan souvenirs.

I began my search in earnest for a 2nd ‘egg’ made in the “Mille de fiorri” pattern b/c that was what DH & I purchased on our last trip to Italy 10 years ago. MANY shops and 2 hours later… and while everyone had found their treasures… I hadn’t found more than 3 or 4 eggs to even look at, and none of them were anywhere close to what I was looking for. No matter, the first one was actually purchased in Florence even though it was made in Murano… but Doodlebug could see it was disappointing, so at one particular shop at the end of the block, there were quite a few “roses” made of glass and wrapped with a bow. She took DH aside and said,

“Daddy, you have to buy Mommy this flower. “

“Really?”

“Yes, Daddy, Mommy’s been looking for an egg since we got here and she doesn’t have a single souvenir from our trip yet and all the regular flowers you buy her just die anyway, this one wouldn’t fade. You should buy her either the pink one or the red one.”

(Note, there were lots of roses in LOTS of colors, and pink is Doodlebug’s favorite color)

DH explained that the color of gift roses generally has a meaning behind it and went over several of the different color explanations to which Doodlebug says, “Oh Daddy you have to buy her the red one!” He did .

A vaparetto ride back and it was essentially lunchtime so we journeyed back to the ship in the hopes of lunch and the ability to do a load of laundry. Lunch was no problem (there’s NEVER a shortage of food availability on a cruise), but the laundry, (like the shops on board & the casino) are closed when we’re in port. I’m not sure how washing t-shirts and blue jeans interferes with the local economies… but apparently they have a ‘thing’ that says “No laundry while in port”… so that had to wait until after we set sail to Croatia.

Our dinner waiter is from Croatia… I wonder what we’ll see?