GONDOLA DOG
Sonya, the World Heritage Pointer, Explores Venice, Italy

Episode 2

World Heritage Site: City of Vicenza and the Palladian Villas of the Veneto
State/Province: Veneto
Country: Italy
Continent: Europe
Year it became a World Heritage Site: 1987
Maps: Europe Italy Venice
Episodes: Episode 1 | Episode 2 | Episode 3

Episode 2: Turning Sand into Beautiful Vases
by Rose Muenker

"Hurry! The boat to Murano is about to leave!" Lorenzo shouted to Sonya.

Just as Sonya's back paws hit the deck, the boatman pulled up the ramp.

"Good thing we caught this one," Lorenzo said. "The next boat doesn't leave for an hour."

The vaporetto followed the shoreline of Venice past beautiful parks and stately houses. Then it turned toward the sea and headed across open water to the island of Murano. The choppy waves made Sonya and Lorenzo bounce on their seats.

"Wee!" they laughed.

"Murano is known for its glass factories," Lorenzo reminded her new friend.

"Can we watch the glassblowers work?" Sonya asked.

"I hope so!" the boy replied.

At the dock, a man invited passengers to follow him to his factory for a free glassblower demonstration. Lorenzo and Sonya eagerly followed.

The glassblowing area filled a large, rectangular room. Red-hot fires burned inside huge furnaces. The heat made Lorenzo sweat.

"Please stand on these bleachers," the guide told them. Sonya and Lorenzo stood on the lowest step where they could see everything well.

The guide showed them a bowl of special sand called silica.

"This is what we start with. We melt the silica in the furnace."

A glassblower held a long metal tube. It had a glob of molten material on the tip.

"It looks like a small bee hive," Sonya whispered.

The glassblower rolled the soft material in a bowl filled with bits of colored glass. He put it in the furnace for a few moments. Then he took the glowing glob out of the furnace and blew through the tube.

Sonya's eyes widened. "Wow, he's changing the shape of the glass with his breath!"

"And look at the pretty swirls that the bits of colored glass are making!" Lorenzo added.

They watched every move the glassblower made for several more minutes.

"Please visit our gift shop on your way out," the guide said. Sonya and Lorenzo took a quick look at all the pretty souvenirs.

"Let's go look at some of the shops and galleries in the town," Lorenzo suggested.

A canal divided the main street. Sonya and Lorenzo walked along the canal and peeked in all the windows. They crossed from one side to the other on arched stone bridges.

Boats stopped at restaurants and stores on the canal to deliver fruits, vegetables and supplies. Visitors ate lunch at sidewalk cafes shaded by huge sun umbrellas.

"It's very peaceful here," Sonya remarked.

"Compared to Venice, it's like a small town," Lorenzo replied. "There's no hustle and bustle."

"Look at this!" Sonya exclaimed. She was peering into the window of an art gallery. An elegant glass vase stood on a pedestal in the center of the room.

"It's gorgeous!" Lorenzo agreed. "My grandmother loves that shade of blue. We'll have to tell her about it."

The tower clock struck the hour.

"We've got to go," Lorenzo said. "Tonight's the only night that grandfather's neighbor can take us out on his gondola."

Sonya dashed toward the waterbus dock. "Come on!" she woofed. "Tonight I get to steer a gondola!"

"Don't get your hopes up!" Lorenzo warned.

"He'll let me steer. I just know he will!"

To be continued...

In the next episode, Sonya goes on a gondola ride.

Go to Sonya's Picks for links to websites about the sights of this World Heritage Site.

Test your understanding of words used in this story with the Word Match game.

GONDOLA DOG Sonya, the World Heritage Pointer, Explores Venice, Italy Episode 2

GONDOLA DOG
Sonya, the World Heritage Pointer, Explores Venice, Italy

Episode 2