The Hall of the Great Council in the Doge Palace has exquisite art on the ceilings and walls. April 28, 2017

Tintoretto’ s massive oil painting, “Paradise,” adorns the Hall of the Great Council inside the Doge’s Palace in Venice. Tintoretto was an Italian painter who was born in Venice in 1518. This gigantic canvas—one of the world’s largest paintings, almost 82 ft long—was painted in sections between 1588 and 1592. April 28, 2017

This is the view of Venice from inside the Bridge of Sighs. So, why is it called the Bridge of Sighs because supposedly prisoners would sigh at their final view of beautiful Venice through the window before being taken down to their cells. The Bridge of Sighs connects the prison to the interrogation rooms in the Doge’s Palace. April 28, 2017

The exterior of the Bridge of Sighs in Venice, Italy. The bridge connects the prison to the interrogation rooms in the Doge’s Palace. April 28, 2017

The stunning St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice, Italy. April 28, 2017

The pigeons of St. Mark’s Square in Venice, Italy. April 28, 2017

I just can’t get enough of the gondolas cruising down the canals in Venice, Italy. April 28, 2017

The Grand Canal in Venice, Italy. April 28, 2017

A view of San Giorgio Maggiore, one of the islands of Venice, Italy. April 28, 2017

While my travel mates Alice and John spent the day in Padua, Italy, I island hopped. For what amounts to a day transportation pass, I bought a 20 euro boat pass that basically allowed me to ride the waterboats or vaporetti to this island of Murano and to the two other islands I wanted to see today, Burano and Torcello. Murano is famous for its glass making, which can be seen in just about every shop on the island. April 29, 2017

Any store you walk by in Murano has some form of glass products in their windows. And, although most of the merchants have no photo signs in their windows, this one did not. April 29, 2017

It was a lovely day for a stroll and I did just that on this glass-making island of Murano. April 29, 2017

More of Murano. April 29, 2017

I bought a cute pair of glass earrings in this Murano shop which was filled with all kinds of glass products. April 29, 2017