European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 11, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse                                The enormous dome of the Cathedral of Santa Mario Del Fiore in Florence. Continued from Page 8 factory. He gave the Petty officer and her Friend Katherine Powers coupons for a free water taxi ride to his business at nearby Murano an Island renowned for its venetian Glass factories. Schuster and Powers arrived at Murano after a 20-minute ride through several of Venice s canals and across the open water of the surrounding Lagoon. They watched master craftsmen turn molten red hot Glass into ornate vases and pitchers. A Salesman showed the two through the adjacent store where chandeliers that normally sold for 1.3 million lire More than $860 were on Sale for Only 700,000 lire less than $470. But schuster still found the prices  when i think of a factory i think of things you can afford Quot schuster said. Quot at these prices that s not a factory outlet that s a  Powers on the other hand said that despite the High Price of Murano s Best known product the afternoon she and schuster spent on the Island was her favorite part of the trip. After touring the Glass factory and visiting several shops specializing in a what else a Glass they stopped at a Cana Side restaurant displaying a tourist menu. Quot we sat outside spent about an hour and a half and enjoyed Good food Nice wine and it was t crowded Quot Powers recalled. The meal Cost less than $17 each. The atmosphere was free. By the time the pair returned to Venice crowds of tourists and revellers made simply crossing a footbridge a major Challenge. The group from Naples had arrived at a hotel outside Venice late on a Friday afternoon. The hotel was across the Street from a train station and Venice s Center was Only a one Stop 10-minute ride away. Ryan was one of the eager souls to head straight into Venice. Quot there weren t that Many people there Friday Quot he recalled. Quot i was surprised saturday. It was swamped. Quot it Only took me a half hour to walk from san Marco to the train station Friday Quot Ryan said. Quot saturday it took me two  even though schuster saw some of the Best sales of the entire four Day trip in Venice shops the crowds prevented the dedicated shopper from enjoying her favorite avocation. She made an Early night of it and returned to the hotel before 7 . Some of the Naples itt s other Venice Tours might be better timed for shopping enjoyment besides the tour schuster and her fellow travellers took there was a four Day Carnevale tour which headed directly to Venice and stayed until festivities ended Ash wednesday. In addition to offering a trip in september to see the Gondola races the Naples itt also has scheduled Tours to Venice in april june and october. Florence Tours either in combination with other cities or alone Are scheduled for March april May june july and october. 10 stripes Magazine March 11, 1993