Murano is probably the best known island in the Venetian lagoon. This is where the famous glass is made. Shops in Venice are filled with long strands of colorful beads, stacks of bowls and glasses and sculptures that ranges from kitchy to absurd. A lot of what you see is not made in Murano at all, but are cheap imports. Recently I got to spend a day on Murano and meet some of the artisans who are creating real masterpieces from glass and fire.
Murano is easy to each from Venice. You can take a private water taxi or a vaporetto from Fondamente Nove or Piazzale Roma. When you arrive on the island, particularly in summer, there will be plenty of people offering you free tours of factories and lunch. My advice to you is to politely decline and seek out some of the smaller workshops and artisans. Even better get in touch with Vivo Venetia and have them show you around.
Spring in Rome is the best. The city turns green again and the wisteria and then the jasmine smell amazing. It makes it very difficult to stay inside at my desk. A few afternoons ago I took a break from my screen and spent the morning shopping for baby gifts and new spring clothes and before I headed back inside stopped for lunch in the spring sunshine at Angelina. This is a great place in the food wasteland near the Tridente shopping area and the Fontana di Trevi.
Left to our own devices Mark and I are pretty dull. We do the same things over and over again. We eat at the same places over and over again. It usually takes a visitor to shake things up. A few weeks ago when Saskia was in Rome we took advantage of her exploring energy and tried the new cafe at Rome's Opera house.
I love to friend mix. Bringing together disparate groups almost always results in new friendships and an interesting time. A few weeks ago Elyssa, my organizer pal, wrote and suggested lunch at a favorite place of hers, La Trattoria Monti. My pal Saskia was in town and it happened to be her birthday, so she invited another Dutch speaker and in a happy coincidence Holly was off island for a few days and could join us too. It was a virtual United Nations with Americans, Dutch and Australians in a restaurant in Rome eating cuisine from the little known region, le Marche at Trattoria Monti.
