Travel Article

[fossilfly]

Do you think a travel article about Murano would be interesting?
Jena and I were there on Oct, and could write a short article with some pictures to post on the website.

[glassman]

sounds good. I think if you made it interesting with a lot of photos and tips, it would well recieved.
Did you take many photos when you were there in Oct?

[fossilfly]

Yes. a bunch of photos of the furnaces, canals, shops, the Murano Glass Museum, lighthouse etc.

For such a relatively small island, it has quite a bit to see!

[spartina]

I would be interested in reading a travel article as well--In the hope that I may go someday!

[drabkin]

I would like to see something like that. I have always wanted to goto Murano, and might have the chance this summer :)

[spartina]

Me too.

National Geographic has a slideshow of Venice! Some awesome pictures! Now I really want to go! :)

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/traveler/photos/venice0511/venice_gallery.html

[spartina]

A very good article about the Opera house in Venice and touring the city

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/09/AR2005120900569.html

[fossilfly]

A friend emaile me this article on travel to Murano and how not to be taken or ripped off while traveling. some of it is specific to Murano, but applies to all travel related purchases!

Posted on Fri, Jul. 13, 2007
Savvy travel shopping

BY DAN VIERRIA
''We wuz robbed!'' just isn't the lasting impression we need after travel shopping. Unfortunately, bad deals happen.''Everybody gets that sinking feeling that they've paid too much,'' says Laura Morelli. ``It's buyer's remorse.''
Or, that great-deal high is deflated upon arriving home and spotting ''Made in China'' on the ''authentic'' Mayan artifact.
Morelli, author of travel shopping guides Made in Italy, the new Made in the Southwest and the upcoming Made in France, says the easiest way to spot an American at an airport is ''the size of their suitcase.'' Yes, we are souvenir and gift buyers when traveling.
Morelli learned savvy travel shopping the hard way. Young and gullible, she paid too much and bought inferior-quality items.
Earning a doctorate in art history from Yale and living in five countries gave her the experience and knowledge to avoid the bad deal. Chatting by phone from her Connecticut home, Morelli passed along some advice.
Q: Where did you first go wrong?
A: Murano glass. When I first visited Italy, I signed up with one of the hawkers to take me to glass-blowing factories. You're led into a shop where you would pay way too much for lesser-quality Murano glass.
Q: How'd they snooker you into the purchase?
A: There are people who stand around in major tourist areas and say, ''Hey, take a free ride to the factory for a free tour.'' That trip made an impression.
Q: What's the basic strategy for avoiding paying too much?
A: Rule No. 1 is to buy what's traditional in each place. Don't buy Murano glass in Rome, buy it in Murano. Buy directly from the artisan when you can. Say you're visiting New Mexico and want Pueblo pottery, you could go to one of the artisans there.
Q: The most obvious signs of getting a bad deal are ...
A: Try to avoid buying off the street. Airport shops and cruise ship ports are not a great idea.
Q: Are there any exceptions?
A: Some places in Latin America have a long tradition of street vendors and that's perfectly legitimate.
Once I was in Palermo, Sicily, and there was a shop down by the cruise ship ports. It looked like a classic tourist trap with tacky stuff. But something caught my eye in the back of the store. There were some of the most beautiful handmade wrought-iron headboards I'd ever seen. Turns out they were made by the proprietor's father.
Q: What types of places are most reliable?
A: One great place to buy is museum stores. Typically they'll carry quality things. Another is a craft market (or fair) that's staged maybe once a year. You can make a personal connection with the person who makes the goods. An Indian market and a Hispanic market are held in Santa Fe annually. The people who sell there have to pass muster to be a vendor. There's quality control.
Q: How can we learn more about authenticity?
A: If you know you're going to Guatemala, do some reading ahead of time. Find out about local craft traditions. If you want to come home with something you'll treasure, do some research ahead of time.
Q: Why is shopping such a priority for travelers?
A: Everybody wants to come home with some kind of souvenir from their travels, something traditional, native from where they've traveled. But it's very hard to tell you're getting a good deal if you don't know the culture well.




© 2007 Miami Herald Media Company. All Rights Reserved.
http://www.miamiherald.com

[aarathi]

The idea to include a travel article in this site is good. Due to this article many people can understand various tourist places, accommodations etc. Anyway traveling is very thrilling experience to everybody.