We actually got a good nights sleep........the mattress was hard but the pillows were amazing! Great combo! We had ordered our breakfast last night and said we would be down to the breakfast room at around 8:30. There are so few guests that they wanted to know what you would like the night before. The scenario worked.......and it was fun to just sit down and have breakfast served......no questions asked. As usual, I think we ordered and ate too much!
A couple of silly pictures of us........maybe we didn't sleep as well as we thought!
Ca Maria Adele has some of the most eclectic and fascinating decor........everything is one of a kind (obviously with a venetian flare!)
OUR MORNING ADVENTURE.........SOMETHING WE HAD NOT PLANNED ON
On the flight adventure over, Andrea's glasses managed to break. The previous week we had been scurrying around trying to get a second pair of glasses for me because I always manage to either lose or break mine. Guess who had the jinx this time?!!! In any case, we needed to do something about this. One of the nice guys at the front desk ended up being an incredible help. He had these fantastic pair of hand-made glasses and recommended an artisan's store where we should see if they could help. This became our morning mission.
The day had started a bit unsettled with a couple of showers, but as the morning advanced, things brightened up and the sun came out. The shop was in the 'centro' so the fastest way was a quick 1-stop vaporetto ride to the other side of the grand canal. This stop lands you right a Harry's Bar (haha, famous for lots of reasons, not the least of which are the prices). Anyway, too early for a Bellini! Thank goodness for Google Maps........it is amazing how it helped direct us down any number of calles and back streets about a dozen block behind Piazza San Marco. Half the fun of walking in Venice is getting lost, but on this occasion probably not a good idea!
This is not like walking into a shop in the Natick Mall! The owner was quite the character. He could not have been nicer. We told him the hotel sent us and he stopped what he was working on and immediately set to work on with fixing the glasses. 5 minutes later.......completo! and he refused to take any money. Quite the experience!
Afterwards we walked in a more roundabout way back to Piazza San Marco. We wanted to stop in to see the Oliveti Showroom museum in the northwest corner of the piazza arcade. We missed this last time due to Acqua Alta and the museum being closed. It is a fantastic period piece of mid-century modern design by Carlo Scarpa. If you read out last Venetian blog you probably got more than you ever needed to know about this architect/artist.......truly a special talent. The showroom was beautiful. We will not overload this blog (I really could!). We will just show a couple of pictures.
Along the way.......
And we couldn't resist a stop at the Cafe Lavena. This is in Piazza next to Quadri's Caffe......one of the two most expensive ones. Lavena was the favorite of Richard Wagner and has historically been frequented by musicians. We actually needed to use the bathroom and an espresso standing at the bar is a small price to pay! Coffee was 1.5E there, and 18E sitting down outside with the orchestra! We saw a couple of local 'working types' grab a quick espresso at the bar......so we knew it wouldn't be too expensive.
OLIVETTI SHOWROOM
HAHA, before there was a legal requirement for handrails.......it was a bit of an adventure going up! Below, an amazing fountain.
Back to our room around noontime.......getting ready to check out and reserve a taxi to San Giorgio Maggiore. We loved this room and its very special view and location.
But before leaving we took a quick walk to a nearby sandwich shop to grab some lunch to take with us. It was fun watching the local school empty out for lunch recess!
The trip over the lagoon took only 10 minutes. The water taxi dropped us off at the front of the marina basin.........with a major 'climb' to get out of the boat and on to dry land! We must have been quite the site. We both had to first sit on the stone wall and then clumsily roll over and get ourselves upright. Good news was that we survived. The last 5 minutes was dragging our suitcases through the gravel path to our building! (check it out below)
Andi took a break on a bench by the San Giorgio café while I went over to check in with the concierge. That way, minimum 'dragging' of bags over the stone paving. There was some minor confusion on our room. Our old buddy Carlo was still at the desk (still somewhat somber, but welcoming). He was running out and said we could just go with one of the cleaning ladies to our room. He said 'no problem' we would remember where it was. There was, however, a problem as the lady took us to the wrong room. After 5 minutes of somewhat chaotic discussion.........way too fast for our Italian, Carlo said we could move to our original room. 15 minutes later we were unpacking. This was followed by our 'take out' lunch (delicious) and some focused movement to the beds for a nap.
A FUN DINNER TRIP OVER TO GIUDECCA AND I FIGLI DELLE STELLE
We were not planning on finding a place to eat outside, but after taking the vaporetto to the Zitelle stop we were surprised to see tables outside at I Figli delle Stelle. We had not eaten here before, but had seen good reviews. It is a very low key neighborhood hang out where the venetians like to go. It has an amazing location right on the fondamenta with an amazing view over the Giudecca Canal to Venice centro. Apparently, this was a week of high tides.......not directly Acqua Alta, but just part of the monthly cycle. The water was very high, right up to the edge of the fondamenta. It was a bit intimidating initially, but they offered us a table with a ringside view. So why not! It turned out to be a memorable evening with great food, drink and spectacular clouds and setting sun. We stayed until almost dark.
Outside the 'Residenza' is a marina and yacht club.........on the way to the vaporetto stop. After this, get ready to see many, many sunset photos! We could not stop!
