Friday, September 19, 2014

Venetian Glass


It recently occurred to me that some of the most beautiful glass in the lagoon is the lagoon itself as it appears along the edge of Lido south of the Armenian monastery island. It's the calmest area of the lagoon I've seen so far; even the wake of a speeding water taxi there appears in evening light not as rough broken water but as a smooth molten swell and roll.

The surface of the water can be so mesmerizing, in fact, that while keeping a constant lookout for other boats as you steer your own it's quite easy to forget all about the long long peninsula of land to one side of you. This lapse of land awareness is a mistake, however, as I learned from the angry shouts and gestures of an elderly fisherman seated on the bank after I'd inadvertently driven over--literally above, really--his line.

Of course if you simply take a walk along the lagoon edge of the Lido, as you easily can, this hazard is nothing you need worry about. Though I could imagine stumbling into a fisherman seated low in his canvas sling chair while walking with my eyes fixed on the water. But the view is worth that risk.

                                                                                                                                                                     photo credit: Jen
                                                                                                                                                                     photo credit: Jen

10 comments:

  1. So, one of the lessons I've derived from you today: do not try to fish when Sig. Nonloso decides to be mesmerised by the waters of the lagoon.

    Your photos are A1, as always, Siggie.

    Cheers da Australia.

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    1. That is definitely the most important and useful "takeaway" from this post, Yvonne. Thanks!

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  2. When everyone is talking about the beauty of Venetian glass, you could come up with your own beautiful glass which is the lagoon itself. And you’re very correct. Seeing pristine, shining water, anyone will be mesmerized as happened in your case. Very beautiful snaps, Sig. Nonloso!

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    1. Thanks very much, Conall. As beautiful as Venetian glass is, the lagoon manages to be even more so, and the influence of the lagoon on the glass-makers (conscious and unconscious) is one I find quite interesting.

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  3. Hi Sig. Nonloso, your first picture of the lagoon with Venice in the background is beautiful! Could you please tell me at what time you took the shot? Its light is very special!

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    1. That was taken in the south lagoon, Feline, in the canal that runs southward alongside the Lido in the direction of Chioggia. We were in a boat, but you may be able to get a similar view on foot (or bike) from the lagoon side of the Lido, south of the Armenian monastery island and the little island of Lazzaretto Vecchio. The water along the Lido there tends to be the calmest, glassiest I've seen in the lagoon.

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    2. As for the time: I checked the image info only to find my camera's clock was obviously not correctly set on the evening I took that. I would guess the time was about 7 pm, perhaps a little earlier.

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  4. Hello Sig. Nonloso, thanks for sharing your post and beautiful pictures of Venice. I particularly like the second picture, the sun reflected in the lagoon's water!
    Greetings from Belgium!

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  5. Beautiful pictures, specially the one with the broken "bricola".

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    1. Thank you, MMG; it's so easy (at least for me) to forget how much Murano glass makers are inspired by the colors and changing appearance of the lagoon in which they work and live.

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