A life-sized glass horse in Murano.

A nighttime gondola ride from the train station. The Bridge of Sighs. Getting lost from one canal to another. Gondoliers dressed in their striped shirts. Getting lost crossing another bridge. Watching a graduation ceremony in St. Mark’s Square. Bumping into graduates, still wearing crowns of flowers and leaves, all day and congratulatingthem. The Basilica of Saint Mark. Venice was magical. Venice was sensuous, all those feathered masks and mystery. A quick visit to Murano and then on to Burano, an island in the Venetian Lagoon.

Have you ever seen anything so delightful?

Burano was delightful. Every house is painted a different color, and now two neighboring homes can be the same color.  With its pinks, blues, oranges, reds, violets, yellows, Burano resembles a child’s drawing come to life. It’s also a dream come true to a color swooner like me. We walked round and round this island village sighing, exclaiming and smiling in delight.

Charming, sì?

As I photographed yet another irrestible scene, a man called out to me from his window.  “Buon giorno!” he said. “Buon giorno!” I replied. He launched into an explanation of his town. “There is no crime here because everyone is so happy.” I’m not sure if that’s what I really heard, but it sure makes sense. How could anyone be nefarious in such an effervescent place?

Here are a few more.  Enjoy!

This is the color I would choose.

Taking it to another level!

Something tells me Borano doesn’t know from tighty whities

I simply LOVED Borano!

On to Florence!

All photos courtesy of Debra Darvick.