A merchant in Venice

The market by the Rialto Bridge.

We are now in Venice and it is so different from Rome. In Rome it was wide open vista and avenues and of course in Venice every square inch is precious. Every doorway is filled with vendors of cheap glass, expensive glass, tourist trap masks, exquisite linens, top name fashions like Hermes and Vitton and street carts with knock off scarves and straw hats. If Rome was the city we took tours, then Venice is the city we shopped. Today we travelled to the Murano Glass factory and watched a master Glass Blower called Giuliano Ballarin at his craft. Then we toured the showrroms and while I was managing not to fall in love my dear husband succumbed. Turns out this is the end of season for the factory's designs, Easter marks the 'new' year, which means deals could be had. So with negotiations and the children wanting their own pieces,  I ended up getting four pieces of Murano glass with free shipping home for a small fortune. Ah well - it's not very often my husband turns to me with that look - the one my mother had every time she fell for a piece of glass. So I couldn't resist and at least he chose something I liked too. But wow! 

Our last full day in Rome was dedicated to the church. We strolled up to the north side of the Vatican in order to tour the museums and the Sistine Chapel and St Peter's Basilica. I thought that I would be amazed and in love in the museums, but I was merely enjoying them. The Rapheal Rooms started to catch at my heart but it was when we entered the Sistine Chapel, with the hush that they insist upon - a room not filled with hundreds of chattering tourists but hundreds of quiet people, that it hit me. There above me was art I had studied over and over during many art history lessons and now it was there - real. And it was far greater than I imagined it would be. one piece a sybyl wearing her robes of yellow seemed to come forward off the fresco and I was amazed. Michelangelo's skill is just as all those people before me have recognized as genius. I was definately moved in this chapel. And when we moved into St Peter's the light shining through the transom above the naves of chapels on the high alter gave the reverence and awe inspiring views I had heard so much about. My son Arthur was visibly moved to tears. We stopped to pray and I sent thanks for this blessed place and opportunity.
    We were up early on Wednesday to catch the train to Venice. The Termini is a huge place with hundreds coming and going. We had a little confusion about our seating but ultimately we settled and while I wrote in my journal, Miriam drew and Arthur played Mindcraft and Garland studied chess moves or the newspaper. A lovely four hours travelling through Firenze, Padua and finally across the water to this lovely city. The evening ended with a gracious meal over looking St mark's square where street vendors flew bright blue lights high in the sky and my children madly rushed down to find them. The wind was up and the night had fallen but eventually the illegal vendors reappeared and the kids gleefully begged me to buy the flying toys.
A magical end to a lovely day.
But wow - can the Venitians sell you stuff. Every one of them is a great salesman. You must stay on your toes and be a poker face and prepare to walk away in order to get a deal. William Shakespeare had it right about these guys.