I'm in Murano

[BurlyBeaR]

Or at least I was earlier today.

You know when that nice lady visits QVC and says what great prices the pieces are compared with if you bought them in the place of their origin?

Hmmmmmmmmm!

 

[Brissles]

oh BB are you REALLY in Venice ?

I'm off there for 4 days next week, so come on, what ARE the prices like ? and is Murano really worth a visit ?

 

[BurlyBeaR]

Murano is only 10 minutes across from Venice and your travel pass covers it, so jump on the vaporetto and go take a look.

It's difficult because there are some obviously high end shops, and many many more mass market ones. However the chunky coloured glass beads with silver or gold leaf inside is a recurring theme even in the touristy stores. Of course I don't know if I'm comparing like with like in terms of quality but it looks pretty much the same and is loads cheaper.

And there's is a huuuuuuge amount of glass tat!

 

[Flamenco]

Word of advice, do not buy anything purporting to be Murano near the Rialto bridge, where the market it. Its all made in China and sellers will swear black and blue its made in Murano. It is not. The masks similarly are Chinese tat. There are some nice little authentic Murano jewellery shops in the Dorsoduro area of Venice,, and there are a couple of places behind the L'Accademia art gallery that sell Murano and they're OK.

 

[lizgregs]

I'm off to Venice early Thurs morning! My friend and I have long said we would have a girlie trip away after we both had tough times a few years ago and finally booked this trip. Very excited - doing the sights plus island trips and strolling around doing some shopping. I want to bring some jewellery back - fancy a micro mosaic bracelet as it will remind me of one my dear departed aunt gave me years ago - and perhaps a small decorative mask. Oh, and want to find a shop by the name of Il Papiro which sells hand-made paper, notelets, cards etc - so beautiful and luxurious, not to mention too nice to use!

Any tips for any of our trip are welcome. Thanks!

 

[catwoman]

Make sure you get the water bus and not the water taxi, as they are very expensive. Be prepared to stand your ground on the pontoon when you're waiting, because the locals don't like queuing and will try and barge past you as the water bus approaches!:nod: Leave yourself plenty of time to look around Murano because there are lots and lots of shops, and yes, BB is right, you can buy all sorts of lovely things for a fraction of the price over here. Check when and where your return bus leaves from too, so you can plan your tour of the shops, because you'll be really tired after all that shopping. I bought a lovely millefiore wine bottle stopper last time I was there for 5 Euros, and some pretty beads too, very inexpensively.

If you're going to St Marks Square, be aware that if you sit down for a coffee it's likely to cost you about 10 Euros each, and if they're playing music, you'll automatically be charged another 10 Euros each!!! The Doges Palace is well worth a visit too.

 

[BurlyBeaR]

Make sure you buy a travel pass. €35 for a 3 day one compared with €6 per trip. You'll be on and off the vaporettos ALL the time so it costs in. Always validate before boarding or it's a €50 fine if the inspector gets on.

Move away from the tourist areas to eat and drink. It's loads cheaper. If you want a quick bite on the go there are dozens of little bakeries and stalls selling sandwiches, slices of pizza and around Rialto bridge its all about cut fruit served in a disposable cup for €2.

Try a "Spritz". Prosecco with a dash of Campari and topped up with soda. You'll see everyone drinking the pink aperitif and theyre delicious.

Don't buy your souvenirs until you've settled in a bit. The masks and stuff are literally everywhere and you don't want to buy the first that catches your eye as you'll see thousands more before you leave.

 

[Brissles]

Thanks for all the advice. I leave in the early hours of next Monday and like Lizgregs am having a girly 4 day trip. Cant wait !

 

[lizgregs]

Brissles - will try not to wreck Venice during our stay or buy everything! Will leave some bits for you....travelling hand luggage only, max 10kg so that will stop any major splurges shopping-wise!

Catwoman - we will sharpen our elbows in preparation for bargeing our way through to the boat. When I went with my sister 20+ yrs ago on a day trip from Jesolo, we sat in St M Sq and had a coffee with the music playing, knowing it would be very expensive but regarded it as a treat and sat there for hours!!

BB - thanks for the eating tips. My friend and I are quite happy to eat in little places off the beaten track so that type of info is great. We are staying in a little b&b in Cannaregio and the owners seem to be very friendly and helpful.

Many thanks!

 

[Gemma1]

I'm off to Venice early Thurs morning! My friend and I have long said we would have a girlie trip away after we both had tough times a few years ago and finally booked this trip. Very excited - doing the sights plus island trips and strolling around doing some shopping. I want to bring some jewellery back - fancy a micro mosaic bracelet as it will remind me of one my dear departed aunt gave me years ago - and perhaps a small decorative mask. Oh, and want to find a shop by the name of Il Papiro which sells hand-made paper, notelets, cards etc - so beautiful and luxurious, not to mention too nice to use!

Any tips for any of our trip are welcome. Thanks!

My tip is to avoid the tourist area where possible. Half the delightof visiting Venice is wandering round the narrow backstreets and finding a tiny restaurant that serves local food. If you like classical music, buy a ticket to a concert, usually short Vivaldi pieces, performed at the music academy near the Rialto bridge.

 

[Moth]

I was put right off visiting Venice when I watched a programme on the TV about the fact that plague victims were simply dumped into the water - thousands of them! Perhaps that's why some people say it smells there at certain times? I think I'd rather go back to Rome

 

[Lilo Lil]

Do QVC still sell Murano jewellry - haven't seen it for a longtime.

 

[mr_rossi]

I was put right off visiting Venice when I watched a programme on the TV about the fact that plague victims were simply dumped into the water - thousands of them!

That must be why there are so many Italian zombie films. :movie:

George Romero's next film is Murano Glass Plague of the Living Dead. Tourists visiting Murano are attacked by plague-ridden zombies throwing glass beads to exact revenge for being dumped into the river whilst they were still alive.

 

[dollydimple]

Ah beautiful Venice, La Serenissima. I've been 4 times over the past few years, staying on the Lido twice. If you are flying into Marco Polo airport, get the Alilaguna water bus into Venice. It's only right to enter Venice via the water :sun:

The bus is ok too and cheaper, to Piazzale Roma, the main bus square - the Grand Canal is just down the steps from the square, just magical. You can then get a vaporetto water bus to other areas of Venice, via the Grand Canal.

Last time I went, there was a festival starting on the day I was returning home and all the bus / allilaguna routes were chock a block. The only way to get to the airport was to take a private water taxi. It was expensive but boy oh boy, was it exciting, skimming over the water back to the airport, felt like being in a James Bond movie, brilliant but a bit scary too Ooh, wish I was going back now but am thinking of going in February to the Carnival. Enjoy your trip xx

 

[Flamenco]

When Mr Flamenco and I visited Venice, it was around mid October and we experienced aqua alta - FLOODING!! We had noticed that every morning the area around Piazza San Marco started flooding, eventually subsiding by lunchtime. On the 3rd day, we were awoken with a siren at 7am, which is the warning of aqua alta that day - severe flooding. We were checking out of our hotel that day and planned to leave our luggage there to collect later, but were told by hotel staff the water would be too high for us to return. We were advised to get up to the railway station and leave our luggage in the lockers there. When we had breakfast at 7.30am the steps of the hotel were already flooded. We duly went to the railway luggage, stored it in lockers and then went back into Venice. Well, the waters rose and rose - we have photos of us thigh deep in water outside the L'Accademia Art Gallery (who wouldn't let anyone in!). The water was cold and I remember seeing lots of fag butts in it - we had to take our shoes off and wade (be careful about accidentally walking into the canal - it does happen). Anyway, we were told that highest point was at the Rialto and we go there to avoid the severe flooding. We waded our way up there, literally, and luckily the boards were not too flooded so we could walk on those. There was a brisk trade of wellie boots going on, at exorbitant prices too! Anyway, the area near the Rialto was relatively dry and we managed to get some lunch (street pizza). Whilst woofing our pizza down, we saw a big rat scurry by, followed by a street cleaner with a big broom, who thwacked the rat to death. Pleasant viewing at lunchtime indeed! Because the flooding was so high, the Grand Canal closed to water traffic and we were beginning to panic about how we were going to get to the airport (out at Treviso - Ryanair jobbie) as we needed to get the airport transfer from the coach station which is up the other end of the Grand Canal. Walking there was impossible. Anyway, the flooding eventually subsided enough for the Canal to reopen and we got the airport fine in the end. It was quite an experience though, and when we got back home it was front page news in The Times! It was the worst flooding since 1960 something apparently.The only advice I'd give (apart from packing wellies if you're going from October onwards) is if you hear the siren in the morning, be prepared for the flooding and the restrictions it will present. But its all part of the Venetian experience and we still talk about it whenever we reminisce about that visit!

 

[lizgregs]

Bit of an adventure there, Flamenco!! Will bear in mind the siren sounding as it sounds like the sort of thing that would happen to me and my friend! As you say, all part of the rich hols experience!!!! Did laugh when I read about the rat and the street cleaner. Have heard about the acqua alta but don't know of anyone who has been there and actually experienced it.

DD - we are flying into Marco P and I've had instructions from the hotel to get the bus to the Piazzale Roma and then the boat to the casino stop so we can experience a bit of water travel early in our stay. The private water taxi sounds fab and what a way to travel in style. Have often thought of going for the Carnevale but I couldn't cope with the crowds - no point in trying to see the sights at that time of year I imagine!

Will let you know how we get on when I get back. Thanks a lot for all your travel tips - it's like a Trip Advisor sub-branch!!!

 

[BurlyBeaR]

Waters are already starting to rise. Half of st marks square was flooded testerday morning, just a couple of inches. And the wooden pallets are being put down all around in the danger areas.

 

[lizgregs]

OMG - really??? Should I travel in a pair of boots?? Still it will add to the excitement and a story to tell when we get back.....If anyone hears anything more before Weds lunchtime (say 1pm), please post as I'm leaving at teatime to pick my friend up and go to hotel before we fly Thurs morning. Thank you !!!

 

[Ruthmay]

If you love Venice, have a look at the books by Donna Leon, about the police Commissario Guido Brunette. it all happens in Venice and I have learned a lot about the city. hope I can go there soon.

 

[Flying Pigs]

Including one entitled Aqua Alta.