Venice from The Isle of Guidecca
Guidecca´s Garden Is Too Secret
Lara was being met outside the station at Venice by a hire car to take her to Bassano di Grappa. This had been arranged due to a train strike. We accompanied her from Punto Sabbioni as she had her camera equipment with her as well as a suitcase of clothes. This was fine by us as we could spend another day in Venice.
We still had our travel tickets for hopping on and off boats or buses. Today was to be a day exploring yet more of this area. First stop was Guidecca Island, which lies opposite the main Venice island. It was so named as once it was where the Jewish population lived before being forced to downsize in the very first Ghetto on main Venice.
We had only seen it as a stop on the ferry and decided it was worth a visit. Did it hold old Jewish buildings or monuments? Also the guide books stated that there was a large private garden there, called the Garden of Eden, and that an old ware-house now housed artisan workshops.
We alighted the ferry at the stop nearest to this massive building, only to discover that it was now a large hotel from a famous chain. First disappointment. The toilet was very nice though!
We traipsed up and down the little roads, uninteresting buildings, mostly housing estates and no history to talk about. Second disappointment.
After a very long walk going around in circles up and over the bridges and asking a number of people, all giving differing directions, we eventually reached the bridge to the garden, only to discover that it was very private and very closed. We were not only exhausted but also very disappointed for the third time that day and it was only half way through.
Water Bus at Guidecca Bus Stop
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It was time to visit St Marks Square and be uplifted once again by the architecture, so we hopped onto another ferry
St Marks Square was teeming with people as usual but at least it was not raining, as our last visit some years previously was a little wetter than today´s heat-wave. We did not partake of a coffee at one of the restaurants but listened to the music played at them by small orchestras. They charge an arm and a leg for the privilege of drinking there.
How could we visit Venice without walking in St Marks Square? The mission completed, we returned by ferry once again to our campsite at Punto Sabbioni on the Lido di Jesolo.
