Florence to Venice
When we left Florence, our bus went west through the Apennines Mountains. We went through quite a few tunnels and overpasses.
Cruise from Venice to Burano
Eventually we arrived at what a tour director said was the largest parking garage in Europe where we disembarked and boarded a shuttle boat for a cruise through the Venice Lagoon to the picturesque fishing village of Burano.
Burano
When we got to Burano, we were escorted to the center of the major shopping area and then released for lunch and a couple hours of free time. We decided to walk a little bit and check out this really pretty town with its numerous sidewalk cafes, novelty shops, canals and bridges. We eventually picked a sidewalk cafe and enjoyed some beer and pizza while watching the crowds. After lunch, we walked down a lot of small streets and crossed several canals as we continued to just have a relaxing walk around the island.
Murano
At the appointed time, we reboarded the shuttle boat and was taken to our hotel on Murano island a short distance away, the Hyatt Centric Murano Venice. The hotel bar had a two for one happy hour, so Lisa and I got a couple of beers and sat outside to enjoy the beautiful day.
Murano to Venice Cruise
That night, we boarded smaller water taxis and crossed the lagoon to the main island of Venice.
Evening Dinner
After a small walk through St Marks Square before getting to the restaurant. Though the food was good, the service was lousy. The head waiter seemed to be yelling at the other waiters all the time, and the food delivery was slow but they were quick to try to take the plates away. Everyone complained.
St Marks Square at Night
Afterward, we walked around St Marks Square again and saw it all lite up. There were several vendors trying to sell glow-in-the-dark whirlybirds. There were three bandstands playing music at alternate times.
Water was bubbling up through the grates and we were told that the piazza often has a layer of water on it at various times of the day. We had passed several stacks of walking planks ready to be deployed.
We eventually took water taxis back to the island of Murano and our hotel. Though many in the group wanted to go to the bar for another drink, Lisa and I called it a night.