Maybe we are actually getting adjusted to the time! We slept until 8:30.......and I missed a short meeting with Marta Zopatta (Centro Vittore Branca Director) and a group of 8 new scholars who arrived this week. She was very nice and said I already knew what I needed to and this was just for the 'newcomers.' Anyway we had a variety of 'toasts' and basic foodstuffs in our room to make it through breakfast........but we clearly needed to head out for some shopping!
We decided that we would take a trip over to Giudecca for some shopping and morning cappuccino. Giudecca is separated by only a 100' wide canal from Isola San Giorgio, but there is no other way to get there than by jumping on the vaporetto. There are four stops on Giudecca, and we choose depending on what we are looking for. Last night, for instance, we only needed to go to Zittelle for dinner. Today we opted to go down to stop #3 at Palanca because there are the most food shops and bars in that area. It is only 2-3 minutes between stops.......so all very convenient.
The map below shows the island of Giudecca in relationship to the center island of Venice. The label of Abbazia di San Giorgio is where we are camped out (I think the blue dot is my phone or one of the air tags!). You can see the four vaporetto stops on Guidecca........and also our proximity to the Doge's Palace and Piazza San Marco.
One of the fun things about being here in spring rather than fall is the change in seasonal plants and shrubs. This time of year the jasmine is just coming into full bloom. The aroma is intoxicating. Walking around the gardens of the Foundazione there are literally hedges of jasmine! Also in the San Giorgio complex are several courtyards of trimmed boxwood......also very fragrant.
This is our vaporetto stop! Nice view!
The Redentore stop, named after the famous Palladio church.
.......and coming up on the Palanca stop (below).
The Cafe outside our favorite bakery, Majer. And inside our order awaits!
After the bakery we headed back to the Coop mercato. It is a 5 minute walk back into the island.......not easy to find, but it has all the necessities. We intentionally stopped first at Majer because they often sell out of the best things before noon.......so no chances taken! We also needed an espresso machiato!
These images show how unique and atmospheric Giudecca is........a true working class community with absolutely none of the crowds of Venice proper.
Shopping success.........it was the bottles of wine and water in my backpack that slowed me down!
Headed back to San Giorgio, the vaporetto was getting crowded!
We had a lunch reservation at the San Giorgio Cafe at 1:15, so needed to be back on time. We got a great table 'embedded' in a hedge of rosemary!
We started with some wonderful tremezzine sandwiches (Andi will punch me for including this picture!). These were amazing, but the main courses were truly spectacular. You know how we love flowers in our food! We think they have a new chef since 2022.
Walkway through the gardens behind the Residenza.
Getting ready to cook dinner!
