Burano had been on my radar for years. The brilliant-colored homes that line the village canals are the attraction, for most. It is also known for it’s creation of intricate lacework. For me it felt like a storybook; life in color. I learned prior to our most recent trip, Burano would be a short boat ride from Venice. We would even make it work with the strike of the city port workers. We walked to the far side of Venice to catch a local boat and caught one of two returning on this day. It was worth every inconvenience. The visit to Burano exceeded my expectations.

Life is a journey. We all come upon unexpected curves and turning points that shape who we are, and in the adventure of each day, we discover the best in ourselves.*

We all want to know the whys behind the colors, don’t we? Legend tells us the brilliant colors would the guide the fishermen home during the overcast, misty mornings. That seems logical enough, but some suggest residents with the same surname had the same colored homes. Logical still. But quite possibly the secret truth lies with the bar goers. The women would tie house-colored ribbons around their loved-ones arms. In the event they overindulged and were lost, everyone knew where to drop them. Home…

To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.

The invariable mark of wisdom is to see the miraculous in the common.

Let us be poised and wise today.  Let us treat the men and women we meet along the way well…treat them as if they are real.  Perhaps they are.

Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything that is beautiful; welcome it in every face, in every sky, in every flower.

These days, the delicate and expensive lace products are equally as famous as its homes. And it is probably not surprising to learn Burano’s home owners can no longer decide its paint color unless approved by a local council.

Finish every day and be done with it.  You have done what you could.
Tomorrow is a new day, begin it well and serenely.

Wind Kisses, Donna

*Quotes by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow