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Day Trip to Murano

Murano, Italy Views

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The sky was cloud-covered, rain was sprinkling down, and the canals were wavy as we boarded the vaporetto, headed for the enchanting Venetian island of Murano. As our boat sliced through the glistening waters, excitement bubbled within me. I was about to witness the centuries-old art of glassblowing that had made this tiny island world-famous.

Upon arrival, Murano’s narrow streets immediately transported us to a realm where glass reigned supreme. Souvenir shops lined the walkways, each one a kaleidoscope of delicate, hand-crafted treasures beckoning to be admired and taken home as cherished mementos. But our sights were set on the island’s crown jewel – the Museo del Vetro (Glass Museum).

Murano's Museo del Vetro

Stepping inside, we were enveloped in the rich history and artistry of Murano’s glass heritage. Despite its modest size, the museum captivated us with mesmerizing displays of exquisite glassware, from delicate wine goblets to resplendent chandeliers that would make even the most opulent palace envious.

What truly sets Murano apart is the extraordinary skill of its glassblowers. For centuries, they have guarded the secrets of their craft, passed down through generations. Watching these masters at work is nothing short of spellbinding. With deft movements and fiery determination, they shape molten glass into breathtaking works of art before your very eyes.

Beautiful Chandeliers in Murano's Glass Museum

As we explored further, a surprising realization dawned on us – finding a cozy cafe proved unexpectedly challenging on this island dedicated to glass artistry. But in true adventurous spirit, we persevered, eventually uncovering a charming establishment where we could savor a much-needed caffeine boost and bask in the enchantment of Murano.

While Murano captivated us with its glassblowing mastery, the nearby island of Burano beckoned with its vibrant allure. A veritable rainbow of colors adorns the houses lining its picturesque canals, a stark contrast to the more muted hues of Venice itself. Alas, the journey to Burano would have consumed too much of our precious time, leaving it as an enticing reason to return someday. There are many tours available that visit both Murano and Burano. Check them out on Viator!

As we reluctantly bid farewell to Murano, our arms laden with carefully wrapped treasures, a profound sense of wonder lingered. This tiny island had unveiled a world of beauty and artistry that few ever truly experience. And in that moment, we felt incredibly fortunate to have glimpsed the secrets of Murano’s glittering glass heritage.

Thanks for stopping by! Check out our Go See Do Explore Podcast, available wherever you listen to podcasts. To read more about our Italian Adventure, check out our La Dolce Vita Trip Report. To read about some of our previous trips, visit my Trips Page. If you like my photos be sure to “like” my Facebook Page and follow me on Instagram! For my list of gadgets to make your travels easier, click here. To see inside my camera bag, check out my Gear Page.

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La Serenissima: A Venetian Adventure

Venice at Night

The city of Venice has captivated travelers for centuries with its winding canals, elegant bridges, and timeless beauty. As we navigated the famed city of water during our recent Italian escapade, we discovered a world that delightfully defies convention at every turn. Join us as we unravel the secrets of this floating marvel.

Arriving by train, our first steps into Venice’s labyrinthine alleys revealed an utterly car-free world – a rarity in our modern times. The absence of vehicles was startling yet refreshing, setting the stage for our aquatic exploration. With vaporetti (water buses) as our chariots, we glided across the lagoon, drinking in the picture-perfect views of the city. A word to the wise: beware of pickpockets aboard these bustling boats. Keeping a vigilant eye on our belongings allowed us to travel worry-free. For a more intimate experience, splurging on a romantic gondola ride is a must, though don’t expect the gondoliers to serenade you – that’s a Hollywood myth!

Church of Santa Maria della Salute

Our “off-the-beaten-path” walking tour of Venice was a highlight of the trip, taking us to places away from the crowds that we would never have discovered on our own. We marveled at the serene Church of Santa Maria della Salute (above) and basked in panoramic lagoon vistas – all without the maddening crowds of St. Mark’s Square. Our guide told us that this was the least crowded May and June he had ever seen and he had no explanations as to why. Outside of St. Mark’s Square, the crowds in Venice were much less we were expecting.

St. Mark's Basillica

St. Mark’s Basillica

Ah, St. Mark’s…while awe-inspiring with its opulent basilica and historic piazza, the frenzy of tourists somewhat diminished the magic. Next door to St. Marks is the Doge’s Palace, the historic home of the Duke of Venice. One of the most notable sites in the palace, is the Bridge of Sighs (below), where prisoners got their last view of Venice while being transferred from the court on one side of the canal to the prison on the other. Still, wandering its labyrinth of alleyways and campos (squares) rewarded us with pockets of quiet authenticity, from the bustling Rialto Market to tucked-away bacari (wine bars).

The Bridge of Sighs

The Bridge of Sighs

No visit to Venice would be complete without savoring its unique cuisine, though admittedly, finding truly exceptional fare was a challenge amid the tourist traps. We delighted in savory bites like spaghetti with luscious anchovy sauce and salt cod – quintessential Venetian delicacies. And how could we leave without indulging in an authentic tiramisu, the city’s iconic dessert?

As we bid farewell to La Serenissima (The Most Serene), we realized that while it may not top our list of culinary heavens, Venice triumphs as an open-air museum where getting delightfully lost is all part of the adventure. With its singular charm and a spritz in hand, this water-laced wonderland seduces even the weariest of travelers.

St. Mark's from the Vaporetto

Thanks for stopping by! Check out our Go See Do Explore Podcast, available wherever you listen to podcasts. To read more about our Italian Adventure, check out our La Dolce Vita Trip Report. To read about some of our previous trips, visit my Trips Page. If you like my photos be sure to “like” my Facebook Page and follow me on Instagram! For my list of gadgets to make your travels easier, click here. To see inside my camera bag, check out my Gear Page.

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Mosquito Bioluminescent Bay – Vieques

Photo by Kevin Wolf on Unsplash

Some of the links below are affiliate links and as such, I earn a small commission from purchases that allow me to continue telling you my stories without costing you anything extra. 

Mosquito Bay in Vieques, Puerto Rico is known as the brightest bioluminescent bay in the world. When we ironed out our plans for our recent trip to Puerto Rico, I made reservations for our kayaking tour to experience the bay right away. While we were getting ready to board the ferry to Vieques, Chris asked me when our tour was,  and I discovered that I booked our tour for the day after we arrived back on the Puerto Rican mainland. I quickly logged on to Viator to see if I could find another tour with availability. Luckily, I was able to find a tour with availability, but it wasn’t with the highly-rated tour company I had originally booked with.

We did a bioluminescent bay tour in Fajardo, in mainland Puerto Rico on our previous trip to the island. We enjoyed the evening paddle through the mangroves, but the bioluminescence experience was underwhelming. On that trip, we met our guide at a beach in Fajardo, we hopped in our kayaks and paddled into the bio-bay. In Vieques, the experience was a little different. Our guide picked us up in the town of Esperanza, crammed us into a rickety van, and drove without speaking to a pitch-dark parking lot where we stood in the mud waiting for someone to tell us what to do (remember, this was not one of the highly rated bio-bay tour companies).’

Eventually, a guide showed up and started directing us where to go. We ended up being the first in our group to get into a kayak. We sat down, paddled away from the shore, and immediately we saw the water light up. Our guide took us to the middle of the bay where we got time to explore this light-up water phenomenon on our own. We could see the fish, stingrays, and maybe even sharks swimming beneath us because the water glowed when they moved. It was an incredible experience, unlike anything I had ever seen before. Words and photos do not do it justice.

This bioluminescent bay is heavily protected because chemicals on our skins and in boat motors will kill the dinoflagellates that cause the water to glow. Swimming and gas-powered motors are not allowed in the bay. The only way to see it is by kaya with a licensed guide. The area is also protected from light pollution. There are not many streetlights near the bay and the ones that are nearby have red lights instead of white.

Overall, the transportation to the bay on our tour left something to be desired, but once we got out of the water, it was an unforgettable experience. It is a must-do if you are visiting Vieques, and if you are planning a longer stay on the Puerto Rican mainland, I recommend you plan a night in Vieques, just to see the bio bay. I recommend this highly-rated tour that we had originally booked on Viator, not the one we ended up on.

Thanks for stopping by! Check out our NEW Go See Do Explore Podcast, available wherever you listen to podcasts. To read more about our time in Puerto Rico, check out my Circle Tour of the Island. To read about some of our previous trips, visit my Trips Page. If you like my photos be sure to “like” my Facebook Page and follow me on Instagram! For my list of gadgets to make your travels easier, click here. To see inside my camera bag, check out my Gear Page.

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Wordless Wednesday: Tres Palmas

Tres Palmas Marine Reserve

Wordless Wednesday: Swiftcurrent Dock

Dock on Swiftcurrent Lake

Wordless Wednesday: Baring Creek

Baring Creek

Wordless Wednesday: Cathedral Room

Cathedral Room at Cascade Caverns

Wordless Wednesday: Riverwalk Ducks

Ducks in Water

San Antonio Riverwalk

Riverwalk Bridge

After our drive through Gruene, we headed to an even more historic Texas city, San Antonio. San Antonio has been on my list for a while now, and if our short trip to Austin had been one day longer, we probably would’ve taken a drive to check it out.

When planning to explore San Antonio, one of the first things to come up is, of course, the Riverwalk. The San Antonio Riverwalk was designed to aid with flood control after a disastrous flood in 1921. Nowadays, the riverwalk is kind of the heart of entertainment in the tourist area of the city, with miles of shops, restaurants, musicians, and attractions all along the river. Being the most touristy part of the city, it’s hard to know which of the restaurants on the Riverwalk are good or if they’re just banking on tourists wandering in without a plan. We had lunch at Casa Rio which we learned on the boat tour is the oldest restaurant on the riverwalk and we were not disappointed!

Christmas Tree Lit Up

Taking the boat around the Rivercenter Mall Christmas Tree.

Tour boats drive up and down the river all day telling the history and pointing out the sights. Since we were in the city around Christmas time, I really wanted to see take the boat tour at night with all the Christmas lights around us. We got in line a little before six and had great light by the time we got on our boat. If you are planning on taking the boat tour when in San Antonio, I have a tip for you: buy your tickets in advance and then you can get on at any of the three stations. When we were walking around, we noticed that for whatever reason, the middle station had a ridiculously long time. The stations closest to the mall and in the Aztec theater had much shorter lines and were both covered (which makes a big difference in the Texas sun). Tickets can be purchased up to 30 days in advance at GoRioCruises.com.

We got a great deal on a hotel in San Antonio. We stayed at the TownPlace Suites, just a few blocks from the Riverwalk and the Alamo. Our room had a kitchenette so we were able to save some money and cook a little in our room. The only parking the hotel offers is valet and given the location, it is expensive. But, given how cheap the room was, paying for parking wasn’t that big of a deal. There are some beautiful hotels overlooking the riverwalk that I would love to stay at on a return trip to San Antonio!

Thanks for stopping by! To read more about this trip, visit my Texas Hill Country Road Trip Report! To read about some of our previous trips, click here. If you like my photos be sure to “like” my Facebook Page and follow me on Instagram! You can purchase prints on Etsy and Fine Art America. To see inside my camera bag, check out my updated Gear Page.

Wordless Wednesday: Lake Michigan Wake

Lake Michigan Wake

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