Roman holiday - 6
Venezia
 The most important schedule in our 'Roman Holiday' was a visit to the Queen of the Adriatic - Venice or Venezia. This Italian gem enthralled us with its world famous waterways. The cluster of islands which comprises Venice, skirts the Adriatic coast and is a favourite haunt for tourists and honeymoon couples.
We travelled from Rome by an express
train to Venice and we got off at St Lucia at dawn. St Lucia is a tiny island which is adorned by several cathedrals. Several
water taxis wait at the jetty to transport passengers to other islands. It is also called 'Ship-Station'. There are also route numbers for each and every boat and ship. The map of Venice and the route to all the islands is clearly exhibited at vantage points in all the places. It makes it easier to sail from one point to the other.
St. Marks' Square is supposed to be the centre of the Venetian islands. Our overnight journey from Rome to Venice covered places of historical importance like Florence, Pisa, St Lucia, Verona, Padna, etc. We alighted the train at dawn to be welcomed by its famous waterways. Its canals are spanned by bridges. St. Marks' Square attracts tourists from the world over. The attractive 'gondolas' are a symbol of Venice. We caught a glimpse of the gondolas on our arrival at St. Marks' Square. Its dark blue colour matches the sea and it resembles a huge canoe. Gliding in gondolas along the picturesque canals is most sought after by the tourists. It costs nothing less than $ 100.
 The lifeline of Venice is its waterways. The spectacular Rialto Bridge, where money transactions took place in olden days, is vibrantly alive with tourists posing for photographs. I reminisced the immortal classic 'The Merchant of Venice' on viewing the 'Grand Canal' and I was transported to
Shakespeare's classic.
The huge castle is maintained excellently and remains a landmark on St Marks' Square. The authorities preserve well this wonderful island for posterity. The tall spires with the Gothic architecture stand as sentinels amidst the azure sky. The old town remains a mute testimony to a bygone era.
I could see many people rowing the boat themselves at high speed. Scantily dressed, the tourists clamour for suntan!
'Murano Island' is one of the important islands in Venice. Set like a jewel in a lagoon, it is known for the much-acclaimed glass. It is a treat to watch the Venetian glassblowers fashion their delicate objects as they did centuries ago. I watched amazedly at the making of a glass object. Unable to withstand temptation, I purchased a couple of objects which are arguably costly. It was very well packed to be air-lifted.
Though the island is sparsely populated, it remains a major attraction among tourists. This sleepy little island has several glass factories. The shops open only at 9 a.m. and close for lunch around midday. Their working hours are limited. After sauntering into Murano Island, we took a ship to reach
'burano Island', which is far away from St. Marks' Square.
 The verdant island, rich in flora and fauna, is a favourite refuge for the old ones. Many old people live there and the lace factories beckon us. Though the sun was beating down, we enjoyed the salubrious climate there. Probably, I was the only one fully dressed (in sari). From the ship, one could see the speeding motorboats. The cathedrals adorn the coastline like a jewel and the panoramic view of the island from the ship is indescribable.
We returned to St Lucia to board the elegant 'Euro-Star' (train) to return to Rome. The landscape from Venice to Rome is visually stunning. The verdant fields spread like a velvet green carpet with small houses here and there and the orchards and farm houses resemble a paradise on earth! The scenario of the silhouette of mountains against the evening sky was a feast to the eyes.
Venice is a city of unparalleled beauty, magnificent and unique with a timeless grace which never fails to enchant.
My Roman sojourn was made very comfortable by our friends in Rome. My special thanks to Rajan, Mrs & Mr Ilango, Dhanush and Mrs. & Mr. Kannan for making our trip unforgettable.
Concluded
Usha Raja
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