Diary Venice

Diary Venice
On the way from Florence our bus went through Bolonga and heard about parmesan cheese, proscitto and Ferrarro factory. Apparently most Italians avoid buying Ferraris because if they buy then they are listed on a rich list and taxed very highly. Saw rice fields flooded. This area is very swampy and has humid summers with lots of mosquitos. Tortolleni pasta and lasanga and cantalloni pasta and bolognaise sauce all invented here so considered culinary centre. Stopped at one of the many Autogrills shop/cafe/toilets and had the best cappucino yet, it was thicker and more to our taste.
Driving into Venice we went past a huge port. Heard about main products- masks, lacen burano glass. Most elegant mask is black and white and was used by Doctors to prevent inhaling malaria they stuffed the long nose of the mask with cotton.
Local guide Ilari (Hilary)
St Marks cathedral is most Byzantine church. Constantinople and Greek influence. Never been in a Greek Orthodox church, most have been Catholic. It was the private chapel for the doge before St Mark's remains were stolen back from Alexandria in Egypt. Sneaked body past Muslims by covering with Pork.
Doge palace. Most important museum in Venice. Doge was figurehead political leader with power only along with others. Rich and elected for life. Only 3 days to take away own gear when a doge died. Saw golden staircase and the mailbox where citizens could rat on tax evaders and others who did bad things. First waiting room has cameo statues on ceiling. 2nd room most important where 6 councillors sit 3 each side of Doge in audience room with ceiling of paintings in huge thick very ornate frames covered in gold. Doge wears special hat with pointy shape at back and jewels all around instead of a crown since not royalty. Keyholes in wood of inside wall. Cabinets for storing documents. Next room bigger than receiving Collega room (number 1 room). Bigger room not such quality but still same ceilngs and paintings, this room was for the senate. Both rooms have 24 hour clocks back to back through the wall. Another clock with zodiac signs and manually moved hands.
Another room for judging wrong doers. Sala del Consiglio. In paintings by Veronaise Venice is represented by a blonde woman.
2 secret rooms off the next room. Casonova escaped when accused.
Great council room. Council elected the Doge. Mechanism in ceiling behind gold ornate framed paintings to make such a large open space with no pillars.
Bridge of Sighs named by Byron because of prisoners crossing to jails.
Glass works factory. Watched jug and horse being made. Bought a red murano glass and decanter set for wedding present. If broken in shipping must take photo and send to venice factory within 8 days.
We went to dinner and walked around Venice with some others from our tour group on the way back to our Palazzo. We crossed the Rialto bridge and then navigated through the narrow streets and across short bridges following the wall signs to San Marco square. There we stopped outside the famous Florian restaurant where we have the farewell drink tomorrow evening. There was a small orchestra playing a medley from My Fair Lady so a few of us sang along through several songs.
There is an electric jug and tea and coffee bags in our room which is a treat.
We had the last morning on tour free to wander so we queued to go up the bell tower beside San Marco Cathedral. Great view from the top of Venice and the outer islands. Cold and very windy but there was a sign at the bottom beforethe lift, warning us of that.
At noon we met our guide again and went on a boat trip to Burano island where the lace makers live. The houses are all painted different colours and there are 2 stories to explain this. The fishermen spend all day out fishing and drinking wine so they need a colour to guide them to the right house... Or they need the colours to see them in the fog. The women took up lace making because it was so boring all day on an island. Lovely lunch with snifters of Amaretto after, along with almond-toffee biscuits and almond shortbready S shaped biscuits to dip into the drink. Wandered the shops and stalls in lovely atmosphere. At La Perla where our guide Igor guaranteed we would get authentic handmade lace I got a white satin and lace reticule for Kirsten (Wedding) and 2 fine needlework tapestry wall pictures or placemats with scenes of Rialto bridge and St Mark's Square. On the way to and from Burano we passed Murano where the famous glass has been made since the 13th century.
Left Venice early. We caught the water bus at 6:50. It stopped at several stops on the way to the aeroporto, taking about an hour. Next stop Dublin. Today is the Royal wedding which we are avoiding by going to Ireland before England.
Paul' suitcase lost a wheel just before we got on the water bus so he had to carry it everywhere. We looked for trolleys at airports and found them very convenient.
When we got to the airport we found it was the wrong one. Had to get a car taxi to Treviso. Another 30 minutes. Only 1 hour until flight. We made it and spent the next hour in queues. Ugh and the Ryan air seats are the smallest ever. Funny landing though: a trumpet ta ta ta ta ra blast over the speakers.