DAY 13 SUN JUNE 25 VODICE, CROATIA

Sailing back down the Dalmatian coast...stunning, stunning, stunning.  Next stop Vodice.

















Fancy, schmancy pilot house for our captain- no more out in the open perch to guide the ship in and  Pleep so enjoys being up there when they anchor or park the ship.  The captain has told us Pleep has keen eyes and has been very helpful- as long as the Banna Daquari's are flowing.















Breakfast of champions?
















That's right dear Bubs, count'em up.



















We anchor right outside the village of Vodice-Vodice was first mentioned in 1402 although it was founded already in the Roman times as Arausa. Its name derives from the word meaning water sources which supplied the whole area.











 
As part of the Republic of Venice from 1412 to 1797, the defense walls from the times of the Turks with the Coric tower testify the past times and history. 














What lunatic architect designed this monstrosity of a hotel for this quaint village?  Looks like a ship and so doesn't fit in at all in a beautiful village of red tile roofs. 

We so needed and enjoyed a sea day on board...just floating in this magnificent water and enjoying the scenery...we delighted having lunch on the balcony.  It was fun watching the local boaters drive up to the Encore for a look see and we did the same.  Lots of "unusual" shaped boats we had never seen before...making an interesting float for all!

Still get a kick out watching the news while traveling outside of the US.  Saw this Mattel (Barbie doll) revision on the news-  as of last year she and her posse now come in all shapes and colors and now a matching Ken...















OOOO, Boca's fav.













Girlfriends, do you remember the Barbie we had growing up? And that silliness went on for decades...









But the big news today was "MAN BUNS AND CORN ROWS:  BARBIE'S BOYFRIEND KEN GETS A MAKEOVER"- much better than hearing about another terrorist event or that Donald Trump is a no good bla bla- yes Barbie's arm candy gets new hair styles, a range of body types, a fresh wardrobe and skin tones for different ethnicities.  Well hello Mattel, why didn't you do this last year when you revamped- make that changed the  ridiculously shaped Barbie into reality?





Ken, Barbie's faithful boyfriend of 56 years is finally catching up.  I wonder if it had anything to do with the 13% in declining sales the first quarter of this year?








And speaking of what else is happening today-this is the latest iteration of what Boca requires to have eyebrows on a daily basis...yes that is an Anastastia stencil....hey where is my wax stick Pleep?  Seriously?  Still growing hair on the chin while only a few left on the brows.  Initially, I frightened our room steward on her early morning check in visits...but like Bubba she has gotten used to Boca oh oh oh''natural.













More of the ships artwork...is this a joke?  A hello Kitty on top of the jumbo vase.  A hit with Pleep.

Boca suggested a bit of room service for the afternoon munchies...yes those fabulous prawns- protein- almost healthy Bubs.














    But this is what showed up?













Is this a prank?  Not only NOT a feast for the eye but equally tasteless.  Even Pleep took a pass.














So Boca tracks down the Food and Beverage manager to share the love.  And having her handy dandy iPad with here...a picture is worth a thousand words-she shares the photo of the tasteless shrimp.  He took it like a champ, thanked me for telling him and promised to do better and Bubs  mentioned "get used to her buddy, she always lets you know what's on her mind".







We were invited to dine with the Guest Services Manager, Bevin and his lovely assistant, both from South Africa (Capetown and Durban)-while Pleep had chow with the crew down below.











Bubs holds their attention sharing some of Pleeps travels and travails.

While Boca enjoys the absolutely diving Thomas Keller fois gras. Ooooh La La.  Oh and by the way, there are no modifications of any of Keller's recipes.  Good idea Tom- why mess with perfection?












Bevin, is quite impressed with Pleep's technical ability and decorum.  He had heard from his colleagues on Silverseas and Regent that our darling little monkey could be a handful.  He also told us the Captain approved allowing my beloved cousin Dushan (who lives in Kolut, Serbia) and his daughter Milena, will be able to board for the day tomorrow.  Bravo!  We are so excited about their visit- driving 10 hours to see the Pleep, Boca and Bubba is much appreciated.  Making our dinner with these delightful young folks even better.  Continued success in your respective careers!


This ship has a younger crowd than we are used to...party on!  And quite a few kids as well,  which made Pleep oh so very happy.  I hope these quite well behaved children rub off my little Pleepster.














Our Cruise Director even joined the band for some singing fun...you go girl- organizer and smiling face by day and rockin it entertainer by night.  Fernando, I think she just raised the bar!

DAY 12 SAT JUNE 24 VENICE ISLANDS, ITALY

Yes here we are sailing into Venice- to drop off some folks and pick up some new ones.  Lying in the extreme northeast of Italy, Venice was the gateway to the Orient and became an independent Byzantine province in the 10th century.  Exclusive trading links with the East and victory in the Crusade of 1204 brought wealth and power which were only gradually eroded by Europeans and Turkish rivals...more about Italy and Venice in a few weeks when we come back to spend some time here and kick off the Italian land tour portion of Boca and Bubs summer fun.




Always stunning to see- our first time to see it from a ship.  Wow- what a birds eye view.












Wonder who owns the Be4?















St. Marks...before the day gets started.

















Lots of red roofs.















Churches, Churches- lots of Churches
















Picturesque














So The Collins take off for Murano and Burano for the day...




MURANO- THE GLASS ISLAND
Much like Venice, Murano comprises a cluster of small islands, connected by bridges- it has been the center of the glass making industry since 1291, when the furnaces were moved here from the city because of the risk of fire and the effects of the smoke.



Murano  lies about 0.9 miles north of Venice and measures about 0.9 mi across with a population of just over 5,000 (2004 figures, I guess they don't count that often).  It is famous for its glass making. It was once an independent comune, but is now a frazione of the comune of Venice.  We watch the glass blower in this very hot room, sitting on stadium metal- could they make it any hotter?

Murano’s reputation as a center for glassmaking was born when the Venetian Republic, fearing fire and the destruction of the city’s mostly wooden buildings, ordered glassmakers to move their foundries to Murano in 1291. Murano glass is still associated with Venetian glass.

Murano's glassmakers were soon numbered among the island’s most prominent citizens. By the fourteenth century, glassmakers were allowed to wear swords, enjoyed immunity from prosecution by the Venetian state and found their daughters married into Venice’s most affluent families. While benefiting from certain statutory privileges, glassmakers were forbidden to leave the Republic. However, many of them took the risks associated with migration and established glass furnaces in surrounding cities and farther afield — sometimes in England and the Netherlands.

Murano’s glassmakers held a monopoly on high-quality glassmaking for centuries, developing or refining many technologies including optically clear glass, enameled glass (smalto), glass with threads of gold (aventurine), multicolored glass (millefiori), milk glass (lattimo), and imitation gemstones made of glass. Today, the artisans of Murano still employ these centuries-old techniques, crafting everything from contemporary art glass and glass jewelry to Murano glass chandeliers and wine stoppers.

Venice kept protecting the secret of the production of glass and of crystal but, notwithstanding it, the Republic partially lost its monopoly at the end of the sixteenth century, because of some glass makers who let the secret be known in many European countries.

Some of the companies that own historical glass factories in Murano are among the most important brands of glass in the world. These companies include Venini, Alessandro Mandruzzato Ferro Murano, Barovier & Toso, Simone Cenedese and Seguso. In order to protect the original Murano Glass art from foreign markets, the most famous Glass Factories of this island have a trademark that certifies glass made products on the island of Murano.

The oldest Murano glass factory that is still active today is that of Pauly & C. – Compagnia Venezia Murano, founded in 1866.  And just by luck, the glassblowers shop led us straight to the bosses store.  No Boca did not want to pay E13,000 euros for a glass turtle.  Did not like the high pressure sell  in the shop and in fact shared the experience with our destiaton services director- oh and by the way, make sure there is water on all of our tour buses or boats. 

And per the Collins Art Critic, Bubs-" it doesn't get any uglier than this s#%t".

Everybody loves a clown so why can't you?













Even the chandeliers are infected!






Back on the boat to head over to Burano- hey what's going on Pleep?  A gondola race!




Lots of kid excitement on the Venetian waters today.  Bonjorno Pleep!




Arivaderci!


Burano-the cheeriest little island,  is the most colorful of the lagoon islands and can be distinguished from a distance by the tilting tower of it's church.  And oh so many brightly painted houses.












 The wee island is located in the same lagoon as Venice, but its colors pop and fizzle in a way that makes it feel almost tropical.

The houses on Burano obviously follow a special color pattern, dating to the island’s “golden age” when it was first becoming developed.  Pleep thinks this is a real cool place-in spite of the sweltering heat.

 If you live on Burano and wish to paint your house, you must send a letter to the government, and they’ll reply telling you which colors you’re allowed to paint your lot. 

Legend says that the island’s fisherman were the first to paint their houses in bright colors, so they could see them while they were out fishing...

making sure the wife was faithful and not having one of the gondola drivers stop by? 

Nowadays, lace stores and ice cream shops and artisan kiosks clutter Burano’s narrow streets  

Pleep and Bubs are all about a slice.  Holy Moly- what kind of pooch is that???  

A long haired Dachshund-poor baby, I am sure his Mother loves him.

Are the selfies improving? 

Purple Haze? 

Pleep liked that everyone in the town hung their underwear out to flap in the breeze.

Talk about a bad hair day.  

More of the clutter, ahem, I mean lace shops and ice cream anyone?

Lacemaking is another one of little Burano’s big highlights. The women of the island have been experts at lace since the 1400s, when Leonardo da Vinci himself visited to shop for cloth that he used on the altar at the Duomo di Milano.  After spending 2 hours contemplating  which table cloth to buy- they really were all so gorgeous, Boca settled on this one- 150 inches long and 10 napkins.  No bargain, but so beautifully made.  Bubs the chow better be table linen worthy for our next dinner get party.  

Met a couple of lively Brits up top for the cocktail sail away as we compared notes on  Silversea, Regent and Seabourn. 

 One of them shared that the people of Venice recently signed a petition to NOT ALLOW the cruise ships to come into their port.  Huh?  There were 9 cruise ships in Venice today.  We had to wait an extra our in line to depart- like the airport!  Is that why it's soooo hazy?  Grey ooze.  A petition?

Boca is not buying it...in a country that is in an economic down- slightly an iota better than Greece, they are willing to turn millions of Euro's in business away?

Remember the photo of St. Mark's square on the sail in this morning, check this one on the sail out....hope they leave by the time we get back here.  Yikes!  

Back to happy hour...one of Pleeps favorite mixologists at the Keller Bar. 

 Boca envisions some delicious appetizers for dinner in the Keller Grille....pinot noir, steak tartare and prawns.

But Bubs highly recommended (admonished? shamed? guilted?) the healthier version for Boca as she then reminded him of his no desert commitment he made....for the day anyway.  Tit for Tat Bubs.

  Boca attended the lecture on Montenegro...

 a colorful history indeed. 

 On oh so many levels.  Boca vividly remembers the reign of Tito- a very different former Yugoslavia today indeed.