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Hemingway's
Lagoon
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We
discover Jesolo and Caorle through the eyes of the
great American writer Ernest Hemingway.
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We
follow in the footsteps of American author Ernest
Hemingway as we discover the towns in and around
Lido di Jesolo.
Our starting point is Lido
di Jesolo where, if the weather permitting,
we can get to work on our suntans on the sandy stretch
of beach. It may not be as trendy as Riccione,
but there's still plenty happening and, being so
close to Venice, is the perfect base for visiting
the world's most romantic city.
Children and grown-ups alike will flock to Lido
di Jesolo from June 11th to 17th
when "Castelli
di mare", the international sand sculpting competition,
is due to take place on the beach beside Piazza
Brescia.
 Lido
di Jesolo and the surrounding area was immortalised
by Hemingway in some of his most important
works including "A Farewell to Arms" which
describes the retreat of the Italian troops after
the disastrous defeat at Caporetto
(Kobarid). The nineteen-year-old Hemingway was
a volunteer ambulance driver in the Red Cross and
experienced many bloody battles first-hand.
Hemingway later transferred to the Italian infantry
and was seriously wounded in mortar fire at Fossalta
di Piave, north-west of Jesolo on the banks
of the Piave river., an injury which earned him
the Italian Silver Medal of Valour.
The countryside is dotted with vineyards which provide
some of Italy's most popular wines.
Take time to sip a glass of wine (an ombra)
but go easy as the local tipples are deceptively
strong. If you want to spend some more time in the
area you may like to try out this excursion
which will take you across the rich farmland of
this fertile plain.
We now head for Caorle
and its beautiful lagoon. The Laguna di Caorle
is a natural wetland paradise, a haven from the
hustle-bustle of Veneto's busy towns and cities.
Time seems to stand still in this area where silence
reigns supreme and you can still see the straw houses
(casoni) where the fishermen stayed, sometimes
for months on end, during fishing season
The tradition of fishing has been passed down from
generation to generation by the people of Caorle
thereby allowing the area to conserve much of its
natural charm and beauty.
Ten kilometres north of Caorle is San
Gaetano di Caorle, a small village built by
the Franchetti family, close friends of Hemingway.
It was here that the American author found inspiration
for books such as "Across the River and into the
Trees", with its evocative descriptions of the novelist's
many shooting parties on the Franchetti estate..
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VENTRIX |
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May
2001
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THE SURVIVOR'S 
