Venice to Pordenone via Passerella

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Geo: 45.9627, 12.655

Just one more photo of the view from our apartment in Venice...so beautiful, and from the photos, you cannot see Steven's annoyance at yet another day with no hot water!

We were up and packed early, and seemed more organised with our luggage than when we arrived. The "five little ducks" walked away from our apartment, all in a line, headed to the Rialto Vaperetto stop - stopping only for a breather and quick look in a church that had a side altarpiece by Titianzo. We made it onto the vaperetto for a trip down the Grand Canal on this cold, grey day, and onto a train to Venice Mestre.

Steven organised the car hire people - we now know not to believe them when they tell us that the car is 400m up the road, as the five of us dragged our luggage up an ugly little road with no footpath for at least a kilometre! The car (Peugot 807) was large, but fairly old...but we are always thrilled when we all fit our all suitcases in! Then, off to Passerella (about 45 min north on the Venetian lagoon, where Steven's cousin was expecting us for lunch.

Elvis Perissinotto (yes, his name really IS Elvis!) lives in the house that until recently, belonged to his parents (Zio Renzo (Elio's baby brother) and Zia Graziella). Elvis and his wife Francesca have renovated it substantially. We had a lovely lunch with Elvis and Francesca, Zio Renzo and Zia Graziella and Zia Pierina (Elio's baby sister) and Zio Corrado. Georgia said it was the best lasagna in Italy! It was nice to catch up with these zii and cousins, especially as we haven't seen much of them in previous visits.

We went with Zio Renzo and Zia Graziella to see their new house, which is smaller and with less land, and closer to San Dona. Then we drove to our accomodation in Pordenone - about an hour from Passerella. We had arranged to stay in a B&B in Pordenone, and it was perfect - we had booked both rooms in the B&B, and the kids said it was just like our own apartment, though with people to cook us breakfast and make our beds!! www.casadimary.com.it

Off to dinner at a local taverna - kids had cinghiale ragu,and I had a wonderful gnocchi after we had a fantastic starter of wild mushrooms on grilled polenta. The regional speech variations in Italy fascinate me - the waitress asked Steven where he was from, as they shared some speech patterns and she came from near Luisana - 100km away, and only 5 km from where Rita's family come from!!!

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Photos

Steven with his zii
L-R Egidio Carpendo, Pierina Carpendo (nee Perissinotto), Renzo Perissinotto, graziella Perissinotto and Steven Perissinotto

Comments

[Nonna Rita]

Hi darlings, have just spent the last 2 hours traveling Europe with you, and it was a wonderful trip. Next time maybe there will be room for Nonna too.So pleased to read all your news,Hope Tom is now fully recovered.We sweltered through the
hottest day yesterday, well over 40 degrees. we are all well and missing you all, but we'll have lots to talk about when you get home. Love to any relies you get to see, hugs and kisses, Nonna and Nonno