https://livinghistoryvw.com/fiorino-pera Sun, 19 Apr 2026 15:05:38 -0700 https://livinghistoryvw.com/fiorino-pera/blog/624/christmas-2016-apprentices-of-rocca-sorrentina https://livinghistoryvw.com/fiorino-pera/blog/624

We apprentices have continued our wanderings, but we always remember with fondness the friends and benefactors from Venezia, Rocca Sorrentina and the Royal Courts. Greetings to all for a Happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year from all the apprentices and young people of Sorrento and the Bay of Naples. 
]]> Sat, 24 Dec 2016 07:53:38 -0800 https://livinghistoryvw.com/fiorino-pera/blog/484/merry-christmas-from-the-apprentices-of-rocca-sorrentina https://livinghistoryvw.com/fiorino-pera/blog/484 Sun, 22 Dec 2013 09:56:22 -0800 https://livinghistoryvw.com/fiorino-pera/blog/403/apprentices-of-rocca-sorrentina-12-crossing-to-the-mainland https://livinghistoryvw.com/fiorino-pera/blog/403 Tue, 11 Jun 2013 08:28:58 -0700 https://livinghistoryvw.com/fiorino-pera/blog/368/auguri-di-buon-natale https://livinghistoryvw.com/fiorino-pera/blog/368 Tue, 25 Dec 2012 03:40:37 -0800 https://livinghistoryvw.com/fiorino-pera/blog/356/apprentices-of-rocca-sorrentina https://livinghistoryvw.com/fiorino-pera/blog/356
Esteemed and most respected Professor Stern:

News reached us that the island principality of the English House of Elswit has been claimed by the Kingdom of Naples, but the villagers there continue to call their island commune by its antique (if not ancient) name of Rocca Sorrentina. My two companions, Rico Millefiori and Prospero Pastorelli, and I learned of all this when we arrived in Venezia after a long, long journey. Our homecoming was not all that we expected it to be. I shall attempt to give you a full account as soon as I can but we are facing a few, unexpected setbacks.
The others send their warmest greetings, dear Professor, as does
Your most humble servant,
Pera Fiorino
]]> Sat, 24 Nov 2012 08:50:20 -0800 https://livinghistoryvw.com/fiorino-pera/blog/283/buon-natale https://livinghistoryvw.com/fiorino-pera/blog/283 Sat, 24 Dec 2011 22:24:47 -0800 https://livinghistoryvw.com/fiorino-pera/blog/272/apprentices-of-rocca-sorrentina-11-the-ship-at-smugglers-cove https://livinghistoryvw.com/fiorino-pera/blog/272 Tue, 27 Sep 2011 19:21:22 -0700 https://livinghistoryvw.com/fiorino-pera/blog/271/apprentices-of-rocca-sorrentina-10-preparing-to-set-sail https://livinghistoryvw.com/fiorino-pera/blog/271 Mon, 26 Sep 2011 13:34:06 -0700 https://livinghistoryvw.com/fiorino-pera/blog/267/apprentices-of-melioria-9-salve-regina https://livinghistoryvw.com/fiorino-pera/blog/267 Mon, 01 Aug 2011 17:30:02 -0700 https://livinghistoryvw.com/fiorino-pera/blog/266/apprentices-of-melioria-8-treasures-and-dangers https://livinghistoryvw.com/fiorino-pera/blog/266 Ciao, Prospero, I called.
Ciao Fiorino, he called back, and then quickly came out of the shroud of the thick mist and added: Buona sera, Signor Professore.
Salve, Prospero, the professor called back. Come closer, but watch your step. Tell me if what is in this pit reminds you of anything that you have seen before. Prospero crouched down to look at the contents of the dug-out. Wow! What a buried treasure! he exclaimed. It looks like the lions that are by the fortress.
Yes indeed, said the professor. Those are in stone but this lion is bronze. It is very curious, dont you think, Prospero?
Curious? Yes! Fantastic, really! But why should this bronze lion be found so far from the fortress? Isnt that fortress a bit ancient, Professor? The professor nodded. It is from the 14th Century, I suspect. This bronze lion may be of the same era. This week some of our gardeners spotted a strange protrusion, so I ordered the workmen to dig here. This is what they found. As we keep digging, I suspect we may find some clues, with the remains of a structure.
Fantastic! Prospero repeated, then he asked: Are you going to close off this part of the land, Professor? When people see this they might just want to start digging all over.
Yes. We must be careful now. In fact, I am going to meet with the regency council now. However, I think you will both agree that this is an exciting discovery.
Yes, Professor, Prospero and I answered at the same time.
Take care, boys. I must hurry to the council meeting. I hope to see you tomorrow, the professor said, hurrying up the hill.
The professor said tomorrow, but we had told the professor and the baroness that we would be leaving tomorrow.
Maybe he forgot, Prospero said, reading my thoughts. I looked around to see if anyone was nearby, but the fog was too thick. I did not want to be overheard as I told Prospero about the captain of the Aurelia and his demand that I meet him at sunrise and serve as his cabin boy.
If that is the case, Fiorino, then we shall leave before dawn. If you join his crew, youll never get home. Besides, Rico has enough money now that we can fend for ourselves.
Right, I said.
We just have to stick together. The old woman who sells the herbs told me that if we stick together, Fortune will find us.
Somehow she scares me as much as the sea captain does, Prospero, I said, and sat on the mound of dirt by the pit. Nobody has paid attention to us for months except for the Principe, and now suddenly, when he is gone, many people are starting to treat us very nicely. It seems to me like a trap. It feels dangerous to stay here and dangerous to leave.
This professor seems like someone that we could trust, Prospero said. He has in mind to get the baker to expand production so as to sell supplies to the ships that come into port, especially the crews. I can see making a fortune right here. Fortune there was that word again. Prospero went on for a couple of minutes to explain the professors plans and theories. I said nothing until he finally asked me: So, what do you think, Fiorino?
I think that we really need to find a way home. Your father expects you to run the Inn for him in Parma; Ricos father expects him to become an excellent typographer and to set up a print shop in Padua. Neither of you can stay here much longer. And I miss Don Angelo and Monsignor the Patriarch, who have cared for me since I was small. I want to return to San Pietro in Castello and finish my apprenticeship.
Prospero listened quietly and then said: Yes, you are right. We need to go home. Tomorrow we leave, before dawn, so that no one will stop us. *** There was one more person that I needed to see, and that was the Earl of Essex. Prospero had given me all I needed to respond to the Captain of the Aurelia, but Essex had been a friend lately, and I wanted to say goodbye properly. Did you tell the sea captain that you would join him? the Earl of Essex asked me after I recounted meeting the Captain of the Aurelia.
No, Excellency, I refused him twice.
Good. You did the right thing. Never entertain a dubious proposal, Fiorino. Even a hint at agreement can trap you for life. It is how this breed operates. They offer to do you a favor in exchange for a favor. If you accept, they will hold you to do them favors forever. If ever you refuse after that, they will kill you. Now you had better hurry back to the villa. It is getting too dark and there are many unsavory characters stalking the port lately.
Essex put his hand on my shoulder has he opened the door for me -- something that the Earl had never done before. He sounded very concerned when he gave me leave: Be safe, Fiorino, he said. As I left the Earls house, the church bells rang. Did they toll a warning or an invitation? Fiorino hears the church bells as darkness falls [PS: A treasure hunt will take place at Melioria this weekend. Be sure to visit and see what you can find!!!] ]]> Fri, 29 Jul 2011 11:59:58 -0700 https://livinghistoryvw.com/fiorino-pera/blog/264/apprentices-of-melioria-7-enter-the-lion https://livinghistoryvw.com/fiorino-pera/blog/264
]]> Sat, 02 Jul 2011 11:56:22 -0700 https://livinghistoryvw.com/fiorino-pera/blog/261/apprentices-of-melioria-6-fiorino-gets-distracted https://livinghistoryvw.com/fiorino-pera/blog/261 Just then Professor Aldo Stern arrived. He is a professor in Torino. I thought that he came to Melioria on holidays, as so many people do, but no! He is on the regency council. I am sorry that you are going, my boy, he said. I have been quite impressed that you are a student as well as an apprentice. I was hoping to encourage you to study philosophy now that I see that you have studied Latin. Thank you, Professor. Don Angelo had taught me Latin when so that I could serve the mass of the Patriarch when I was at Venice, and the Prince of Melioria has always kindly lent me some of his books and pushed me to study. It is their merit, not mine.
Since you are leaving, the professor said, I do hope you will return the princes books. I would hate to think they were lost at sea or stolen by smugglers. Very good, Signor Professore, I bowed. I will return all the books within the hour. The baroness spoke up: And what will you read when you go to the mainland, Fiorino? Perhaps my face betrayed my own confusion, for I had not thought about reading. My only desire was to get home. Listen, then, the baroness said. I am reading this little book of Meditations by Marcus Aurelius. You would like it, I think. May I give you the book as gift? Oh please no, Signora Baronessa, that is too kind, I responded quickly. It is not right that I accept it for we must travel very lightly and I do not know what we may have to do. But I cherish your offer, Signora, and I thank you.
The two nobles of the regency council gave me their leave, and I continued through the waterfront, greeting the shop keepers I knew and bidding them farewell. Keeping the Professors admonishments in mind, I returned to the Villa to bring back the Princes books to the library. Actually, I only still had one book at my place: Orlando furioso . Orlando furioso is such an exciting book! Even if I found it hard to understand this epic by Ariosto when I first started reading, the story had me spellbound. I loved how Orlando traveled around the world to free the captives and to bring justice to the poor. This book had become my favorite and I was sorry to let it go. Yet, the professor was right. I must return the princes book to its place. When I got to the library, I was surprised to see so many books on the floor, some opened, some closed with papers to mark the page where someone had been reading. I was about to put the copy of Orlando furioso back in its place on the shelf, but the confusion of books of the floor, and the smell of the musty pages inspired me to open Orlando furioso again and continue reading for a few minutes. In no time I was following Orlando across fields and rivers and planes and mountains by the light of the volcano. A few minutes turned into hours, and suddenly it was time to eat. ]]> Fri, 24 Jun 2011 10:59:00 -0700 https://livinghistoryvw.com/fiorino-pera/blog/258/apprentices-of-melioria-5-prosperos-report https://livinghistoryvw.com/fiorino-pera/blog/258 Mon, 20 Jun 2011 17:17:29 -0700 https://livinghistoryvw.com/fiorino-pera/blog/254/apprentices-of-melioria-4-rico-finds-a-sponsor https://livinghistoryvw.com/fiorino-pera/blog/254 Sat, 18 Jun 2011 07:15:49 -0700 https://livinghistoryvw.com/fiorino-pera/blog/253/apprentices-of-melioria-3-warning-at-the-shore https://livinghistoryvw.com/fiorino-pera/blog/253 Mon, 13 Jun 2011 05:42:05 -0700 https://livinghistoryvw.com/fiorino-pera/blog/247/apprentices-of-melioria-2-prospero-calls-for-a-plan https://livinghistoryvw.com/fiorino-pera/blog/247 *Baker's table that Prospero uses was designed byMadonna Nowles. ]]> Sun, 29 May 2011 07:24:40 -0700 https://livinghistoryvw.com/fiorino-pera/blog/244/apprentices-of-melioria-1-very-bad-news https://livinghistoryvw.com/fiorino-pera/blog/244 ]]> Tue, 17 May 2011 14:12:36 -0700 https://livinghistoryvw.com/fiorino-pera/blog/219/poem-reported https://livinghistoryvw.com/fiorino-pera/blog/219 Once did She hold the gorgeous east in fee; And was the safeguard of the west; the worth Of Venice did not fall below her birth, Venice, the eldest Child of Liberty. She was a maiden City, bright and free; No guide seduced, no force could violate; And, when she took unto herself a Mate, She must espouse the everlasting Sea. And what if she had seen those glories fade, Those titles vanish, and that strength decay; Yet shall some tribute of regret be paid When her long life hath reached its final day: Men are we, and must grieve when even the Shade Of that which once was great, is passed away. (1802) ]]> Wed, 05 Jan 2011 13:41:43 -0800 https://livinghistoryvw.com/fiorino-pera/blog/214/greeting-for-the-new-year https://livinghistoryvw.com/fiorino-pera/blog/214 Fri, 31 Dec 2010 17:49:18 -0800 https://livinghistoryvw.com/fiorino-pera/blog/213/buon-natale https://livinghistoryvw.com/fiorino-pera/blog/213 Sat, 25 Dec 2010 13:53:17 -0800 https://livinghistoryvw.com/fiorino-pera/blog/164/sounds-in-the-night https://livinghistoryvw.com/fiorino-pera/blog/164 Night after night I can hear the ships passing the port. I can hear men talking, laughing, arguing, planning things. Their voices are always just far enough away that I cannot hear what they are saying, but I hear the inflections of their voices. It all seems so real and so close. Yet, in the morning there is no evidence of anyone coming around, not sign of ships that passed.
Night after night Fiorino hears strange sounds
one of the other boys that share the bedroom with me ever hear these things. No one else wakes up. Santi laughs at me. Rico says that I just dream too much.
Last night the sounds of the passing ships and men arguing woke me up with a start. I sat up in bed and realized that I was sweating and that my heart was pounding. Since this has happened a few times, I decided I would get up to investigate. Yet, as soon as I set my feet on the floor, I heard no voices and no sounds at all. I quickly dressed and crept out of the villa very, very carefully so as not to wake up the others.
Once outside I walked carefully down the hill, listening for any sound and looking through the night to detect any sight that might give me a clue to the origin of the sounds that I had been hearing every night. I made my way down the long road from the villa to the gate. Strange to say, it was unlocked. I carefully made my way to the wharf. All was quiet, but there was a ship docked there that had not been at the port at sunset.
A ship had docked during the night
The air had a strange chill about it for a summer's night, but then suddenly the wind changed. A soft, warm breeze blew gently on my shoulders and neck. It was like a consoling breeze. I became aware of the sound of footsteps coming toward me, but they were not frightening. They were like the footsteps of a friend. I looked up, but there was no one there.
The wind changed again: I could hear the voices of men laughing and arguing and a sudden chill came over me when I realized that I saw no ship in the dock. And then I jumped with a start and found myself on top of my bed in the dormitory.
Had I really heard those voices? Was it only a dream? Everything seemed so real, but here I was in my bed, with my companions sleeping soundly around me. At this point I could only sit on my bed and wonder what this strange dream could mean. Then I noticed something that startled me: the soles of my feet were black as if I had been walking barefoot on the docks. Strange!
Often the sounds of ships and men wake Fiorino during the night
]]> Sun, 25 Jul 2010 20:14:31 -0700 https://livinghistoryvw.com/fiorino-pera/blog/163/mysterious-morning-conversations https://livinghistoryvw.com/fiorino-pera/blog/163 Louis seemed to jump in at my side out of nowhere. I was so surprised by his sudden appearance, but I was also very happy to see him. I did not know that he had come to Melioria.
Louis- Charles seemed to arrive out of thin air
It had never been clear to me how Louis-Charles, a boy my age, could come to Venezia at sunrise and have dinner in Paris, afternoon tea at Versailles, and come back to Venezia to explore the canals with me as the sun was setting. Well, I say I did not understand. In the first days of our friendship when we would chat or explore together, he would surprise me suddenly and say: I must go to Versailles now, and trot off across the Rialto. Sometimes I would run after him because he had forgotten something, but I would never find him. It seemed strange. But the word Versailles meant nothing to me. I thought it was a section of the city that I had never visited. It was only when Louis-Charles spoke about sailing the Seven Seas with pirates that I finally asked the Contessa Foscari about Versailles. She told me that it was far away, across the mountains, across the plains in Paris -- the court of the French king.

It seemed like we were standing right in the presence of the Czarina
Louis-Charles told me how the Czarina is very warm to children and that she always asks him if there are more children in the court. I found it hard to believe, but Louis-Charles insisted it was what she had said. I could almost see the empress speaking with him and even joking. I even thought she said to him, Lou-Lou, call me Lulu but that was an impossible statement. I tried to focus my mind.
The fact was, the empress was inviting Louis-Charles and me to join a group of children at the court. She did not speak of Versailles or St Petersburg, but of Antiquity She said that we should grow to uphold the virtues of the ancients, and that we could help one another to do so.
We want you to meet a girl who is your age and who is organizing all this. Her name is Abigail. If she were here she would explain everything to you. As soon as she said this, the empress looked up to the ceiling, and waved her hand. A bright light seemed to pierce through the ceiling and fill the room. I became aware that a girl about our age appeared in front of us then - it seemed to me that she came out of nowhere.
Here is my dear Abigail now. Please, darling, explain your plans for the Antiquity Children to these two boys. You do a better job than we do, the Czarina said. Louis-Charles became very attentive, and I imitated him in my posture and attitude. What did Abigail have to say?
A young girl seemed to appear out of nowhere
The girl, I mean Abigail, was very quiet at first. She just stared at us as the Czarina continued to talk to us. Louis-Charles continued to respond to the Empress, but he also whispered to me very quietly: The girl is watching us, but she is not as cordial as is the empress. She is like many at the court.
Just at that point Abigail blurted out: Can you two tell me how old you are?
Twelve, we both responded at the same time.
Abigail seemed to sigh, and said. So am I. I am very surprised that you are twelve. You French boys are very puny compared to Russian lads. At 12 they are already big and muscular and ready for combat. The two of you do not look like you are ready for breakfast.
Louis-Charles responded: Russian boys eat very differently than we do. Perhaps that is why they grow sooner. We will catch up someday.
Abigail snorted and then looked straight at me and said. And you do not even dress elegantly. I thought the French loved fashion and style.
To this I bowed slightly and said: Very possibly that is true, Your Excellency, but I am no Frenchman. I am a Venetian and an apprentice gondolier: I dress by another style.
Abigail gave her bored sigh again and said, Well, I much prefer Russian boys. I remember wondering to myself what Russian boys looked like. Just then I heard someone calling my name, and the scene in front of me seemed to dissolve.

Louis-Charles and I met the Contessa Foscari at the gates of the walled city
For a moment I was dazed, then I realized that we were back at Port Melioria. Had Louis-Charles really transported me to the court of the Empress of Russia? Or was he such a good storyteller that I could see what he was describing to me? Everything was so vivid until I heard another voice that woke me from my reverie. That was the Contessa Elena Foscari, who always used to spend time with us in the Orphanage.
Have you plans to stay at the port all morning, dear boys? she said to us. It will soon be time for breakfast: please do not delay. Come up to the villa now. You do not want to be late.
Until the Contessina spoke to us, I did not realize what time it was, but now I suddenly felt hungry No! I felt very hungry! I was grateful for her call, and Louis-Charles and I walked with her up the road to the villa. As we climbed the hill, I wondered how we had managed to visit the Czarina of Russia in Versailles. But I did have one consolation. Abigail was wrong! Louis-Charles and I were ready for breakfast! Let the boys of Russia beware!! ]]> Sun, 25 Jul 2010 16:23:38 -0700 https://livinghistoryvw.com/fiorino-pera/blog/162/ancient-ruins-discovered https://livinghistoryvw.com/fiorino-pera/blog/162 Rico and I did not know what to make of the prince's conversation with us. When the adults are around, the Prince warns us to be careful because there are many dangers at the port, in the hills, in the forest. When there are no adults around, he tells us about fantastic places that we should explore. Rico figures that the prince says what the grownups want to hear when they are near, but that he really wants us to go and explore.
So this morning he was very enthusiastic in giving every detail about the ancient ruins. There is a new science called 'archaeology' that looks for ruins as evidence of life in the past. How exciting that we have ruins right on our own estate. These could point to the presence of something bigger.
Early this morning, when we met some other friends at the docks, Rico and I decided to explore. Stella was there and Santi and Rosaria. Yes! Santi and Rosaria finally arrived from Venezia!! I was so glad to see them - and wanted to take them all over the estate. We went through the gardens and then through the woods and that is when Rico saw them: the ancient ruins!
Rico cheers as he discovers the ancient ruins
As exciting as the ruins seemed to be, we could only ask one another: what are they? what do they mean? Our friends were not shy about jumping up on the ancient stone floor to examine this find. Stella, who had made friends with a parrot since coming to Melioria, was the least shy of us. She touched every pillar, and traced her fingers over the inscriptions on the center column. The images seem to be of a god, she mused, but I cannot tell which one.
Santi snorted. That just looks like some man getting out of a bath. It does not seem to be a god to me. That's when I stepped closer. I did not know what to think. The sculpture seemed to be of a man that was standing among huge serpents. Who was that man? What could it mean?
Fiorino examines the ancient sculpture
Unlike Stella, I was careful not to touch it. It was a good thing, for just then I heard a woman clear her throat. Do not touch that, Fiorino, she said. I turned around to discover that the Contessa Rezzonico was standing at the edge of the stone floor. I jumped to my feet.
The Contessa Faustina Savorgnan ved. Rezzonico often visits the orphanage where I was brought up. Her palace is almost connected to it. That is why she knows us all by name. But I did not realize she was in Melioria, much less that she had been watching us.
The Contessa Rezzonico had been watching the young friends and approached
What have you discovered? Is it safe to touch this, do you suppose?, she asked us with a certain tone in her voice, as if to say beware, there is danger here and you must be prudent .
Santi spoke up first: Good day, Contessa! It seems to be very solid. There is no danger here.
It is not physical danger that concerns me, the Contessa said in that very even tone that we knew meant she did not approve. The ancients did not expect children to be climbing on their altars. There are things here that are not for you.
Altar?, Stella echoed. Is this a church? It is a strange kind of an altar if it is, she said, turning around to survey the stone circle again. But the Contessa repeated her warning. It is better not to touch these sorts of places.
Contessa Rezzonico warns of moral danger.
Within a few moments, Stella followed the Contessa up the hill and into the village. Santi, Rico and I waited until they were out of sight before venturing back on to the stone platform. A soft sea breeze rustled through the trees, whispering to us to ignore the warnings we had received. This will make a perfect headquarters for us, Santi exclaimed. We can call all the boys to meet here and make our plans while we are away from Venice. This could be our headquarters!.
Rico looked at Santi but did not say anything. Really, they barely knew each other. No matter, Santi went on with plans to organize all the exiled kids and prepare to defend the group. I did not know what he was trying to say. I kept looking at Rico, who kept looking at the ancient, pagan altar. A cold wind blew over us and I saw Rico shiver. Santi did not notice. Maybe the contessa is right, my friends, Rico said. We should be careful about this place.
Rico's statement was accompanied by another cold blast of wind from the sea. We knew it was time to leave, and walked back through the woods and into the village.
The boys make their plans to make the ruins their headquarters ]]> Sat, 24 Jul 2010 21:25:13 -0700 https://livinghistoryvw.com/fiorino-pera/blog/159/homesick-kitchen-helper https://livinghistoryvw.com/fiorino-pera/blog/159 Fiorino is homesick for Venezia
Now, I do not wish to complain about Melioria. It is incredibly beautiful. The gardens are open to all of us, and the air that flows in from the sea is fresh and pure. I love to watch the dock workers and the Prince himself has almost made me his special helper, for he gives me many jobs, big and little, to fulfill for him. If I did not have so much nostalgia for Venice, the villa and the village of Melioria would be perfect.
Nostalgia How i miss my Venice!
That is why when I see someone from the city that I knew before, I am always happy, overjoyed, festive! I go crazy with happiness. And today I saw two people that I did not expect to see: the Contessa Elena Foscari and Ambassador Count Loredan.
The Contessina Foscari was sitting quietly in Villa Vesuviana when I came inside with some supplies for the Signorina Cece, who cooks for the count. Signorina Cece is a wonderful cook, but she is not so gentle. She yelled at me for being late. I said it was not my fault that Nella the Asinella refused to climb the hill and I had to carry the supplies up on my back. My excuses did not impress the Signorina Cece who said she would have slapped me for my insolence if she had time, and told me to empty the beans from the sack into three bowls. This I did, and more, for I did not want to displease Cece.
Cece meets Fiorino as he comes up the stairs into the kitchen
The Prince has often told me: Never displease the cook!. I was afraid that it was too late. As diligently as I tried to do everything that Cece told me, I only continued to make a mess. This, of course, only displeased the cook more. What is troubling you, child?, Cece demanded: Why are you in such a tizzy today? But I only fumbled the bowl that I was stirring and risked spilling the contents all over the floor.
Santo Cielo!, Cece exclaimed. I keep telling the Prince to send me girls to work in this kitchen and not these thoughtless, awkward boys! They only learn how to work when you hit them into place. Thats when they learn.
Just as Cece pulled out her rolling pin, the Contessa Foscari came into the kitchen. In the sweetest of voices, the Contessina told the cook that I was needed outside .
Never displease the cook, the Prince has told Fiorino
Cece gave her permission, and the Contessina brought me on to the steps that lead out to the garden. I was very glad to see the Contessa Foscari and wanted to give her a hug, but I knew this was not proper. Still, I wasted no time and immediately asked her if she knew whether the other orphans were going to leave Venezia or stay behind. The Contessa told me that they were all on their way, for Monsignore the Patriarca has secured passage for every one of them .
This was very good news, and I was going to ask more questions about my friends, but just then Count Loredan came walking towards the villa with his own sister, the Contessa Selina. I have known the Conte di Loredan ever since I could remember. Sometimes he even asked me to groom his horse and he allowed me to go with him when he brought out his falcon for hunting at times. He is very intelligent and wise about the world, and has always been very interested in us orphans. In fact, his palace was just across the lane from the orphanage.
The Conte di Loredan and his sister the Contessa approached the villa and greeted the Contessa Foscari
Instead, his sister the Contessa Selina is someone that I have heard about but never seen. They say that she speaks many languages like her Ambassador brother, and that she has visited many countries. I thought it would be good to talk with her like I do with her brother, but when I greeted her, she seemed very curt. I did not know what to do or say, but her brother the Count made a sign to me to be patient and not worry.
Garden Entrance to Villa Vesuviana
Then I realized that I did look like a mess. I was all sweaty from working since early morning, and my face was still flushed from the half-hour I had just spent in Ceces hot kitchen. Perhaps I smelled of garlic and onions, or even smelled like my partner Nella the donkey after hours of hauling supplies to and from the village. It was becoming very uncomfortable for me to stand there. As beautiful as the evening was, the atmosphere in that moment was not clear and calm. I found myself ready to go back to the kitchen. Cece is a tough lady, but after all is said and done, Cecce the Cook accepts each of us, especially us orphans, the way we are and then challenges us, encourages us, teaches us to become better .
Cece the Prince's cook helps the orphans

]]> Wed, 21 Jul 2010 20:26:02 -0700 https://livinghistoryvw.com/fiorino-pera/blog/157/faithful-friends-and-fierce-pirates https://livinghistoryvw.com/fiorino-pera/blog/157 These were my worries until this morning when I suddenly ran into Lodovico at the port. What a surprise! I had gone down there to try to see if I could go with the fishermen, and there was Lodo (that's what I call Lodovico for short) who had the same idea. But we never went fishing! We were so excited to see each other that we forgot all else.
Then, another friend showed up: Stellina! She is so funny. She chatters and then twirls like a dancer when she begins to think of a new idea. I love to be with her, because she makes me laugh so much. Both Lodo and I were glad to see that she made it safely to Porto Melioria too.
Stellina has made it safely to Porto Melioria
Just as we were talking, we saw a strangely dressed man -- or maybe I should say undressed man. He wore no shirt and had a small, silly little hat on his head. and some horrible markings on his body. I was staring at him until Lodo poked me and hissed: He is a pirate. Don't stare!. We did not ask his name, but he saw us staring, so he called us over to the pier where there were some canon balls stacked up. He told us to try and shoot a canon ball, if we dared.
Lodo looked at Stellina and me, and then went forward. He followed the instructions of the pirate and loaded the canon. The pirate told us to move away and cover our ears - and then he set off a blast.
The pirate set off a canon blast
The noise was horrific. Worse, the whole port shook. I thought that everybody from the town would come running out, but no one did. Only the pirate ran down the pier, and on to a little skiff that took him out to sea.
I never spoke to pirates in Venezia, Lodo said, as we watched the pirate row out to sea, but they were certainly there. Maybe we will get to know some pirates this summer while we are in Melioria.
Oh, that would be very sweet!, exclaimed Stellina, much to our surprise. With that, the girl giggled (as she often does) and skipped and danced away, past the docks and into the village. Lodo looked after her, and then said to me: Pirates or no pirates, I am very glad to be here, Fiorino, and I am glad to see you again.
This was good to hear, and I told him that I thought the summer holiday was becoming very wonderful and that I hoped he would join all the rest of us at breakfast every morning at the Prince's villa. Lodo nodded and said that he would. After all, it is best to meet pirates on a full stomach.

Lodovico and Fiorino look forward to many adventures in Melioria
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