What says Spring more that the leaves budding out on the trees. Today’s adventure is a trip to the Giardini, gardens in eastern Castello. One of my favorite areas.
But first a reflection I caught through the window of the vaporetto on the way there.
Ah, another beautiful day in the quiet of morning…really it’s nearly 11 am.
Time to sit on a bench and read il giornale…the newspaper, I think he was reading Il Gazzattino di Venezia.
One of my favorite places is this historic greenhouse and nursery where you can buy plants and they have a cafe….Cafe La Serra. Just in time for a cappuccino break and a piece of their torta di mele (like apple pie but with a thicker crust)
Sadly neither Max nor I play piano.
You can catch up with your favorite gardening magazine. On the way out I noticed they had their special mix for cioccolata calda (hot chocolate if you remember) and I bought a few packets and he told me about their “flower food”…all kinds of teas, and pasta made from flowers. They also have selections of seasonings and a lovely gift pack of edible flowers. All grown organically and locally. I got myself some tea. May go back and get more.
Turtles enjoying the sun in the pond at the foot of the Garibaldi monument.
Fruttivendolo…that is what he is called. He’s your greengrocer selling fruit, vegetables and even herb plants from his boat on a canal in the Via Garibaldi. I think if I lived in the area I would have no trouble buying my fruit and veggies from him. I did buy “due mele per favore” that’s two apples please. I would have bought more but I’m leaving Saturday …sniff, sniff.
And we turn around and it’s time for lunch so we decide to sit in the sun. Max had the gnocchi special with the beer and I ordered from their menu a selection of cicchetti…little bites that you order by the piece, my favorite baccala, an arancini filled with cheese rather than marinara and a tonno (tuna) with cipolla (onion) with a bottle of water. Yummy.
Not a tourist in sight at this end of the calle.
Just Venetians going about their day.
Walking back to the vaporetto we pass my favorite laundry calle.
What better way to end this day tour than with the flag of Venice flapping in the breeze.
Meandering with Misha 
It’s these little details that you spot and record so well that fascinate us, too. The washing lines in Burano are lower than in the city, but, with the brightly coloured walls, seem so interesting. The last time we were there around Easter one year, in a courtyard on Burano there was a tiny tree, a bare branch, decorated with blown and painted eggs suspended from ribbons, just set up in the centre of the courtyard – took a quick photo to remind us of a memory of yet another magical little bit of Venice.
When you get back to Diavolo, you will have a treasure chest of memories again. Thank you for sharing them with us ( we’ve just booked to return in November!) Enjoy the rest of your stay.
One of my favorite memories on Burano was in March 2010. I was actually there with Yvonne and we searched out the Beppo house which is painted in multiple colors…including a TV antenna. Someone had some sheets trimmed in lace on a line drying in the courtyard and I shot the picture of this colorful house between the white lace. It is one of my favorites.
Most of my favorite photos are quick, serendipitous ones that are not planned or framed but just happen.
Thank you for your good wishes. And have a wonderful trip in November. I hope to be back for December 2018.
How odd! We were in Venice 2nd half of March that year, and spent time on Burano, of course. We had to have at least a word with the lovely old barred cat that spent sunny days on a length of carpet outside a shop …. funny, can’t remember what the shop sold, we think it might have been lace, but we remember the cat well, and have missed it in recent years. We know you’ll enjoy Venice in December, we’ve spent some Christmases there, and even enjoyed snow in Venice.
Thought I’d share that someone else thought the same “laundry calle” was worth posting. I love their photos…with all captions etc in French.
http://www.e-venise.com/photos-venise/2017/0302-lessive-corte-nova-venise.html
There’s was earlier this month.
Ah, Michelle, I had no idea about the cafe in the giardino! I must go there next visit! Your weather has been great, it seems. Not so here. I think March may be one of the best month to leave the PNW and be in Italy. We had great weather when we traveled last March.
I see you are already planning another trip! Planning is such great food for the wandering soul.
Just remember that cafe is closed on Mondays…maybe Sunday too but I’m not sure. It is a lovely, spot, far from the hustle and bustle of San Marco and the Rialto…at least until the Biennale…which is happening this summer. I think it’s the only time tourists make it down to this end of Venice.
Interesting 10 euro chalk menu.
Yes, lunch for two 20 Euros, not bad. I think that was their Menu Touristico but just didn’t say it. I usually stay clear but I was tired and hungry. I ordered my cicchetti from the regular menu…the Venetian one. And I’m always a cheap date because I don’t drink.
Fruttivendolo could convince me to become vegetarian…just saying. As always, thanks for sharing!
Me too. I think I’m saving his pick for the Men of Venice calendar I will create someday. They aren’t all gorgeous but interesting. Don’t have enough for 12 months yet. And it may be available for sale. Who knows?
Those flower foods and teas sound beautiful, bella!! And cute turtles. 🙂 Another glorious day … I’m so happy for you. x0
It was hard not to buy one of each.😁
Andante-
I was here for a month in December 2012 (my birthday was 12/12/12) and again in 2013…the last time I was here. And both Decembers were totally different…2012 was frigid with ice on the bridges…salted of course and December 2013 although cold sometimes was really nice walking around weather with hardly any rain and only one Acqua Alta where the lady who was looking after my apartment sent her boyfriend on Christmas afternoon to put the metal gate in the door.
I love Venice in winter. I spent a month each time…just like this.