Venice could not disappoint me if it tried. Every day I wake up refreshed and ready to get lost. I’ll snap a picture of something beautiful and turn around and find something more beautiful, and this problem is never ending. Today was such a glorious day in the life of Kylee. Everyone waited outside our hotel and what happens, oh yeah our appointment at Mazzega Glass on the island of Murano, the contact tells us we have private boats coming to get us. Not only was this the coolest news I’ve received while here, the boats were gorgeous wood and white seats. Plush I tell you, plush. This lifestyle can continue forever! Anyway they took us to this little island where they only focus on glass works. We met our guide and he directed us into their factory where Maestro, no joke that was his name (s
o fitting), demonstrated how to make glass. He whipped out a vase in approximately 2 minutes and then a little horse figurine in the same time. The process was intense because if he didn’t do it right it would blow up. He takes his stick and dips it in water, blows into the pole, shapes it on a stand and Ta-da! Talk about economical, easy labor and an expensive product! After this shocked and changed my life they showed us their showroom. Beautiful works! Every corner was something new and phenomenal. The 9 rooms were lined with these glass chandeliers in every shape and color. As most of you know I have a small fetish for chandeliers (hence my profile picture), and this was a small corner of paradise. The design of them was just so detailed and classic. The smallest pieces were 4 Euro, not cheap, but they were so friendly and helpful that I loved it. The art works ranged from a little bead to a huge stained glass window, great range and color. After our small tour we hung out on the island and shopped in all the glass shops. My favorite moment was when this little Italian lady came over and yelled at me for touching things, because apparently I’m a five year old and not to be trusted. This will not be the end of this today, foreshadow.
We caught a water taxi and headed over to St. Mark’s cathedral. Little did I know that this would take an hour and a half. I fell asleep on my one-hand-on-knee-pose, head bob a goin’, and all the passersby got a good laugh. Needless to say I came away a little nauseous and vertigo to the max. We missed our stop due to our exhausted state, after crossing the Grand Canal twice, we arrived at Ducale Piazza which house the Doge’s Palace, St. Mark’s, the Campanile Tower, and countless other things. The group of us waited outside for only twenty minutes or so and entered St. Marks. What I loved most about this church was the gold mosaics and incredible marble tile floors. We couldn’t stay there long unless we wanted to pay. What I saw, without taking pictures, was breathtaking. St. Mark’s is the cathedral with 5 domes, with the largest in the center, it’s a Greek cross layout and absolutely unique for that time. Susie, Megan, and I then attempted to walk through Doge’s Palace, it cost 20 Euro, so it was a no go and we headed to the Campanile Tower. I’ve decided the flat rate for climbing things with hundreds of stairs is 8 Euro, 8 Euro for death. Best part, it was an elevator. Yet again, the views were spectacular and I have to climb anything and everything to see cities like this. Next thing you know I’ll be in Salt Lake climbing the capital. Uh Huh!
Meg and I went alone back down and tried to be studious little art historians and find a beautiful art museum but we had no idea which one to go to so we sat in the piazza for a long while, talked, and headed back to the hotel. I got in my room and crashed on my bed, shoes on, bag on, key in hand. I was KO’ed. Luckily Megan called me and had done the exact same thing, and also we had dinner plans with everyone who went to the beach to meet at Rialto Bridge. We picked out a quaint little seaside ristorante, the man was so rushed to sit us down, so we did. After getting my drink of water bottle in green glass (water isn’t free here anywhere), and ordering, the man came over and yelled at us for only ordering one plate. We weren’t that hungry and tried to explain that but he just yelled and told us to leave, take my water as a “gift” and leave. I was mortified and more embarrassed than anything. He was so rude about it because we didn’t want an 8 course meal. The best part was that the waiter didn’t even care because it wasn’t communicated that guests had to eat a minimum of 2 main courses. Surriously a joke. I almost cried and we scattered away with a newly found lost appetite. Next we ran in to Becca, Mal, Jenna, and Whitney who were hungry and decided upon a quaint little riverside place. I ordered Gnocchi which is potato bread dumplings and it was so prime. Good news is we didn’t get kicked out. Go us.
We finished the night by walking around, crossing bridges, and talking. Venice gets more and more beautiful by the minute. It’s hard to believe, but it does. The lights just glow and reflect off of the water so perfectly. Although I love being here and this experience I feel that something is missing, something that allows me not to be able to absorb this all and I figured it out. It’s the fact that I’m not here with anyone I love. I need to be able to share this with someone who knows and understands what I’m talking about, I need to have that connection and I can’t. So… if I focus it’ll be better. But here I sit back at the hotel, still swaying side to side from the great water boat ride, wanting a pastry from the other side of the hotel, but that requires walking down 3 flights of stairs, down four doors, and down the hall. Too much effort. Italy loves and misses you.
o fitting), demonstrated how to make glass. He whipped out a vase in approximately 2 minutes and then a little horse figurine in the same time. The process was intense because if he didn’t do it right it would blow up. He takes his stick and dips it in water, blows into the pole, shapes it on a stand and Ta-da! Talk about economical, easy labor and an expensive product! After this shocked and changed my life they showed us their showroom. Beautiful works! Every corner was something new and phenomenal. The 9 rooms were lined with these glass chandeliers in every shape and color. As most of you know I have a small fetish for chandeliers (hence my profile picture), and this was a small corner of paradise. The design of them was just so detailed and classic. The smallest pieces were 4 Euro, not cheap, but they were so friendly and helpful that I loved it. The art works ranged from a little bead to a huge stained glass window, great range and color. After our small tour we hung out on the island and shopped in all the glass shops. My favorite moment was when this little Italian lady came over and yelled at me for touching things, because apparently I’m a five year old and not to be trusted. This will not be the end of this today, foreshadow.We caught a water taxi and headed over to St. Mark’s cathedral. Little did I know that this would take an hour and a half. I fell asleep on my one-hand-on-knee-pose, head bob a goin’, and all the passersby got a good laugh. Needless to say I came away a little nauseous and vertigo to the max. We missed our stop due to our exhausted state, after crossing the Grand Canal twice, we arrived at Ducale Piazza which house the Doge’s Palace, St. Mark’s, the Campanile Tower, and countless other things. The group of us waited outside for only twenty minutes or so and entered St. Marks. What I loved most about this church was the gold mosaics and incredible marble tile floors. We couldn’t stay there long unless we wanted to pay. What I saw, without taking pictures, was breathtaking. St. Mark’s is the cathedral with 5 domes, with the largest in the center, it’s a Greek cross layout and absolutely unique for that time. Susie, Megan, and I then attempted to walk through Doge’s Palace, it cost 20 Euro, so it was a no go and we headed to the Campanile Tower. I’ve decided the flat rate for climbing things with hundreds of stairs is 8 Euro, 8 Euro for death. Best part, it was an elevator. Yet again, the views were spectacular and I have to climb anything and everything to see cities like this. Next thing you know I’ll be in Salt Lake climbing the capital. Uh Huh!
Meg and I went alone back down and tried to be studious little art historians and find a beautiful art museum but we had no idea which one to go to so we sat in the piazza for a long while, talked, and headed back to the hotel. I got in my room and crashed on my bed, shoes on, bag on, key in hand. I was KO’ed. Luckily Megan called me and had done the exact same thing, and also we had dinner plans with everyone who went to the beach to meet at Rialto Bridge. We picked out a quaint little seaside ristorante, the man was so rushed to sit us down, so we did. After getting my drink of water bottle in green glass (water isn’t free here anywhere), and ordering, the man came over and yelled at us for only ordering one plate. We weren’t that hungry and tried to explain that but he just yelled and told us to leave, take my water as a “gift” and leave. I was mortified and more embarrassed than anything. He was so rude about it because we didn’t want an 8 course meal. The best part was that the waiter didn’t even care because it wasn’t communicated that guests had to eat a minimum of 2 main courses. Surriously a joke. I almost cried and we scattered away with a newly found lost appetite. Next we ran in to Becca, Mal, Jenna, and Whitney who were hungry and decided upon a quaint little riverside place. I ordered Gnocchi which is potato bread dumplings and it was so prime. Good news is we didn’t get kicked out. Go us.
We finished the night by walking around, crossing bridges, and talking. Venice gets more and more beautiful by the minute. It’s hard to believe, but it does. The lights just glow and reflect off of the water so perfectly. Although I love being here and this experience I feel that something is missing, something that allows me not to be able to absorb this all and I figured it out. It’s the fact that I’m not here with anyone I love. I need to be able to share this with someone who knows and understands what I’m talking about, I need to have that connection and I can’t. So… if I focus it’ll be better. But here I sit back at the hotel, still swaying side to side from the great water boat ride, wanting a pastry from the other side of the hotel, but that requires walking down 3 flights of stairs, down four doors, and down the hall. Too much effort. Italy loves and misses you.
Kylee, I would have come with you, I know you love me. Your mom wouldn't have come. She is enjoying being alone, all alone, for the first time is who knows how long. And your dad, he wouldn't have come. Traipsing off to Boston to a Red Sox game, yep, that is what he is doing. I understand you, I love you, I would have listened and I would have ordered enough food to keep you from getting kicked out of that restaurant. Yes, I would have been the perfect traveling companion! ;)
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