I really do want to get a rug, but I'll wait and see what the situation is. If it's going to be anywhere in the hundreds of dollars to ship, I'll have to pass. :(

Crys, do you know how much your brother paid for the chandelier? We're not going to Venice this time, so Murano glass is not on the shopping list. What I'm really interested in are some amazing alabaster chandeliers I saw in Volterra. It was just the best use of alabaster I've seen -- the pieces were very thin with this creamy luster, and they just glowed when the lights were turned on. Never seen anything like it. I've been lusting after one ever since!