Italy knows how to use color for sure, in its glass and in it’s painted houses, not to mention in its food.

Today I went to Murano, famous for its glass makers and Carol Clay, Cathie Anderson and I got to see glass making first, followed by a tour of nine rooms of glass…the things the master glass makers produce are amazing…full sized clowns, turtles, aquariums (complete with bubbles), chandeliers of all sorts and colors, owls, elephants (no, I resisted), wrapped candies, and of course jewelry and glass ware. All Murano glass is made without lead, but from sand from France.

After leaving Murano, we went to Burano, which is another island about 40 minutes from Venice, known for its brilliantly painted houses and for its lace making. I went crazy taking photos I can tell you that! The island has canals all through it, lined by brightly colored houses. It’s a popular tourist stop, but the one quiet place was the beautiful church, and the parks were pretty quiet too.

Back in Venice I went to the Doges, or Duke’s palace which is magnificent, and included a view of the “river of sighs”. The palace crosses over a couple of canals.

Tomorrow it’s off to Umag in the afternoon for the ITF world championships for Cathie and Carol and for watching and working the world championships for me.