Black, White, and Blue

Leaning Tower of Burano

Burano has it's own leaning tower!

All Painted Up

What happens to a ladder in these parts!

Getting a New Coat

Muffa

Reflection

Burano, Italy

Our next stop was the beautiful little island of Burano. The houses are all painted in wonderful colors. As in Venice, there are no cars here, but more little parks. Next time we come to this area with the dog, we will stay here instead of Venice!

Blown Glass Detail

Blowing the Glass

Murano Glass Blowing

We stopped briefly in Murano to watch a glass blowing demonstration. Amazing!

Passageway

Beetle Mania

We saw this wallpaper at an art exhibit which was part of the Biennale Arte di Venezia. The beetle with a spot on it's back was named by Oskar Scheibel, a Yugoslav amateur entomologist, who was a huge fan of Adolf Hitler. When he discovered this cave beetle, he named it Anophthalmus hitleri.

Sunny Venice

Hanging Around

Passing Through

Reflection II

Reflection

Out and About

Lion/Dragon Slayer

Rialto Bridge

Gondola Rush Hour

Waiting

St. Mark's Square in Evening Light

Venice!

It was the first decent weather we had seen in months at the beginning of June and tourist season wasn't quite in full swing yet (though there were still FAR too many of them), so we decided to make an impromptu trip to Venice. It was Janet's first time and it had been 25 years since I was in Venice, so I was happy to go back. Walking around at night is the most pleasant since most of the tourists (some from cruise ships) are gone. I love taking photos during the "blue hour." Unfortunately, I did not have the big camera and tripod along on our walk, so the photos aren't the best quality.

Hedgehog

We spotted this BIG hedgehog in our garden. I didn't get close enough to take a great shot. This guy was as big as a large cat!

Bastille Day

Last July 14th was Bastille Day in France. We watched the Ferney fireworks from our balcony. The moon was competing with the fireworks!

Sun Bathing

Charlie finally goes out on the balcony by himself to lie on the warm tiles.

Hiking with a View

Janet and Charlie hike in the meadows of the Jura with the Alps and Mont Blanc in the background and Lake Geneva under the haze.

Hi!

We went for a lovely hike in the Jura last weekend with a friend and her kids. The weather was stunning. In this photo Aurelie (who loves animals) is trying to make friends with a cow we saw on the hike.

Chilis

Up Close and Personal