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We had a lazy morning today. We set the alarm, but wound up turning it off, finally getting up at 9:45. Fortunately, breakfast is served through 10:30, so we weren't late.
After a leisurely breakfast, we walked to the vaporetto stop closest to the hotel, catching the vaporetto to Burano. Burano is another island in the Venetian archipelago with a very laid back feel to it. No two houses are painted the same color, so it's also a very colorful town. It's famous for its colorful houses and its lace making.
We spent quite a while wandering around town, stopping for a light lunch (piece of pizza, water, and gelato cones). It was a nice change of pace.
The photos above are three typical windows in Burano. The photo on the left also has a fireplace in it. The photo on the right has wall planters painted to match its house. And almost all the windows had flowers somewhere nearby.
The photos above are three more windows from Burano. The photo on the left includes a lamppost. The center photo features a bicycle and a boat in the canal in front of this house. The photo on the right has a matching doorway covering and a full shelf of flowers.
The three photos above are typical Burano scenes. The photo on the left shows that not all of the windows in Burano are in painted walls. The center photo includes some of the tiled rooftop. The photo on the right shows three adjoining houses and the very colorful hanging baskets that are very common on this island.
The three photos above are typical Burano "street" scenes, showing the canals that criss cross this island and the colorful houses that line the canals.
The photo on the left above emphasizes the colors reflected in one of Burano's canals. The photo on the right above is a trio of kayakers wending their way through another of Burano's canals.
The left two photos above show Burano reflected in Carl's sunglasses. The photo on the right is laundry day.
Seen around Burano. The leftmost photo above is a fancy lamp, probably of Murano glass. The next photo is a sign which uses a trowel to hold it up, warning people not to pick the rosemary. The next photo has a fishing net and boot. Burano is a fishing village which expanded its net making talents to making lace. The rightmost photo is a wall shrine.
The three photos above were taken in Burano's market area, a couple of blocks devoted to selling to tourists and local alike. The photo on the left above is a fancy meringue wedding cake (the bride and groom cut into it just a minute later). The center and right photo are samples of the lace for sale on this island.
The three photos above were also taken in Burano's market area. The photo on the left shows some miniature lace umbrellas. The center photo is a lovely piece of lace with a Carnivale mask displayed in the center of it. The photo on the right features some colorful cat masks.
The three photos above are also from Burano's market area. The left one has miniature gondolier hats and the one on the right has a selection of silk scarves. The center photo is a display of tomatoes.
Eventually, we returned to the vaporetto and rode back to the stop closest to the hotel.
Stopping at the front desk, I bought a voucher with a password to access their provided computer. The computer in the lobby was connected to the internet, but using it to access the internet wasn't free. The voucher provided me with sixty minutes of access. I did manage to catch up on the email, but couldn't answer any of it!
Venice is so damp that we can't get anything to dry. Not even the quick dry stuff that we took along. So, we asked our friendly desk clerk where the closest laundromat was. Just past the ATM he had directed us to the previous day. Okay. We filled one of the suitcases and took off looking for it. We wound up having to ask at several stores for additional directions before we finally found the laundromat. Try asking for a laundromat (lavandoria) when you don't speak much Italian and they speak less English... The section of Venice we were staying in is more residential than touristy.
Finally, just past the fruit and vegetable market, there was the self-service laundry. We got the directions for using the machines figured out and started two loads. Carl stayed to watch over it and I took my camera back to the market for some shooting!
The three photos above are from the fruit and vegetable market near the laundromat. The photo on the left is lemons and strawberries. The center photo is asparagus. The photo on the right is zucchini with blossoms. Stuffed zucchini blossoms is a favorite dish in Italy.
The wash cycle finally finished and we started to load the damp clothes into the dryers only to be told that a circuit breaker had tripped some place and there was no heat for the dryers. They would tumble all day and just eat euros... So, we dumped the damp clothes all back into the suitcase and headed back to the hotel.
By then, we both needed showers and there was rain threatening. We stopped at the front desk to ask our friend if there was another laundromat in the vicinity. He wasn't aware of one - he's from another part of town - but he'd search the internet. At this point, Carl told him that he'd be happy with one within five kilometers - he'd take a taxi there, if need be. Our friend finally stopped laughing and started searching. He called shortly thereafter to say that there was one near the train station, which isn't that far from the hotel.
So, Carl took off for the laundromat. I stayed behind to download images to the computer and burn cds. I was not hungry, but I wound up eating an apple anyway. That was dinner. Oh, and I checked the email again. Still can't send anything...
Carl returned a bit later, wet and a bit chilled - it had rained while he was out. Picture this, an American wearing shorts and a raincoat, walking the streets of Venice, pulling a rolling duffle, and carrying an umbrella. He went prepared!
We just went to the hotel's bar for dinner. I still wasn't hungry, so Carl had a sandwich and a beer and we shared a fruit salad. The day ended fairly well after all.