Saturday in Giudecca and Move to the Convent

On Saturday morning, the scene is suddenly completely different: Many people, apparently locals, are out and about, shopping. There is chatting with neighbors, admiring children and dogs, and a cheerful atmosphere. Many shops along the waterfront that are usually boarded up have raised their shutters; there are fish shops, fruit and vegetables are set up outside, butchers, drugstores, and small delicatessens are open. Perhaps people only shop in Giudecca on Saturday mornings and leave the boulevard to the tourists who are currently few and far between. I thought there was only a small supermarket and a pharmacy here….

The public swimming pool right at the end of the island is also well visited on Saturday morning. Children are learning to dive with strict guidance from older lifeguards, four ladies are diligently engaging in water aerobics (in a small part of the pool, a platform has been set up for some people to stand on, it is quite cramped), there is a lane for fast swimmers, two for leisurely ones, and the other three are reserved today for student groups. From the pool, you have a wide view across the entire lagoon; the water is pleasantly warm.

As last time, I am amused by the different customs in various countries: There are no lockers or cabinets here. You hand your valuables at the cash register, where they are stored in a drawer. You hang your things on hooks in a large changing room; apparently, theft does not occur here. To shower, you have to wear your swimsuit; nudity is prohibited. Everyone has swim caps on, even the men, and in the hall, they wear slippers; many have also brought bathrobes for the walk to the pool. There is neither a sauna nor a children's pool with a slide or water massage jets. Everything is simple, functional, friendly, and pleasantly warm. The youngest children are probably of elementary school age. Probably, in Italy, people do not take toddlers to the swimming pool.

Instead of the announced permanent rain during the day, everything remains sunny and dry, so I take one last aperitif by the water and then cross over to