Grilling Out at Pordenone

All over Venice, there are signs that say, "Venice 2020." Remnants of the city's now-defunct bid for an Olympic games. Think about it: rowing would be awesome. And that's about it. The rest would be "Treviso 2020."

In this town, people leave their trash outside their houses in tiny bags. The dumpsters here are gray and yellow, with ventilation holes. They sit next to the canals like three-dimensional cheese graters, waiting to get picked up by trash-boats.

I went to a lecture at the Ca' Foscari University. There were two Turkish writers who read passages from their novels on the 1915 persecution and exile. After their readings followed the Italian translations. Turkish sounds to me like German played backwards on a record player.

Riding in a train is a worthwhile experience. The Veneto countryside out the window more than counterbalances the fact that you can't breathe inside the rail car.

Yesterday I went up with Anna and Giovanni to Pordenone for a barbecue. Weather was perfect, and there was enough bacon, chicken, wings, polenta, bread, beer and wine to last well over three hours. These were Giovanni's friends from his scout troop (he's a leader).

My presence at the barbecue was a chance to practice English for some.

One of Giovanni's scouts excelled at the tennis racket-flyswatter. A useful tool obviously invented by the exterminator son of a tennis pro.

The marketplace in Pordenone happens every Saturday. You can find just about anything. Shirts, pants, underwear, shoes, rugs, hats, umbrellas, belts, knives, pots, pans, bags, jewelry, scarves. The prices were unbelievably low. I didn't buy anything.

I finished The Sun Also Rises. It comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb.

Just to keep you all updated... I'm a little behind in my blog. Just got into Florence safe and sound, and tomorrow begins my program. COMING SOON: Last day in Venice and PHOTOS!

Salute.
-a