Burano

It’s beautiful. Don’t buy any lace though… it’s mostly machine made now. Take lots of pictures… it’s better to arrive in the morning or late afternoon, as the light can be too harsh in the middle of the day for pictures.
This is the place to come for a walk to clear your head and breath some fresh air away from tourists. A nice place for a picnic.

We arrived on a hot, sweaty, summer day in August. We had taken the water bus from Venice, crowded and suffocating inside, breezy and close on the decks, and were ready for something to eat and something to drink from the second we disembarked.

The colors of the island grew out of the green water in a rush, rising between the swells and bounces of the bus. The string of brightly painted buildings wrapped itself around the islands in an intricate pattern of canals and bridges, mirroring, in a way, the lace the island is famous for.

Legend has it that the colors helped fishermen to see their houses from the decks of their boats, giving them a sense of comfort and security as they went about their tasks. Walking amidst the houses and shops, this one green, this one pink, that one pale blue, a visitor can imagine the tranquility available in such a place. The island is quiet and relaxed and completely over-run by tourism.

All the shops sell lace, most of which is no longer made on the island, and far too much of which is designed as souveniers rather than material for pillows or trim or curtains. And far too many of the shops contain no public restrooms, nor decently priced, decently edible food.

However, the atmosphere, the photogenic nature of the island more than makes up for these deficiencies; the park that fronts the landing docks makes a pleasant place to relax and to take an afternoon out from a busy tour schedule or rush to sightsee.

(As a side note, one of the more interesting sights is the nearly flat island across the canal from Burano proper, on which stands the ruins of an old church, the spire of which can be seen from the bus stop.)

We arrived, we walked around, shutters clicking and euros jingling in pockets. We ate and laughed and bought postcards to be sent to friends across the globe. We wondered and read in our tourbooks, we wandered and guessed at meanings. We relaxed and wished we could stay.

this is the island “where the rainbow fell.” a small island filled with colorful houses.

There were boats everywhere! They’re like cars and bikes on this island. It was amazing how many vibrant colors one would see on a “street”. We ate at a couple of outdoor cafes – very European. ;)

There are ladies making all sorts of clothing and jewelry at stores all over the island. Some of it is good…some is not made well. Be careful what you buy, but don’t be afraid to buy. This is Burano, not a tourist trap in Mexico.

I’ve got a heap of great memories about this place, it was one of our Europe tour stops, so I felt like there wasn’t enough time to really grok the place.

The buildings… they really are as vibrant as they look in the pictures!