November was a gamble that paid off - we were very lucky with the weather and there were many fewer tourists. Previous trips to Venice have been in summer, where the intense heat and crowds were a challenge. This holiday was very relaxing and laid-back, and less expensive too.
Pietro was away so his neighbour Constantino met us at the quay which was very helpful, not just with our suitcases and a wheelchair, but also for guiding us to the apartment. It is tucked away down a quiet alley, so finding it for the first time without a street map would be difficult. (Not everyone has a smartphone with GPS!)
The ground floor of the apartment is ideal for someone who has mobility problems. Just a few steps up and down (and one bridge between quay and apartment), otherwise the bedroom, living room, bathroom and kitchen are all on the same level. Upstairs the rest of us made full use of the space and comfortable sofa-bed, so we had bedroom each. The heating was excellent, and hot water on demand.
Cannaregio is definitely the best area for experiencing 'real' Venice. Once we had discovered Despar (a well-stocked supermarket in an amazing old theatre) in nearby Campiello de L'Anconeta, we were able to eat in once a day and eat out for other meals at nearby restaurants. Fabulous food! Pietro's friendly neighbour the other side of the garden is opening his home as a restaurant in early 2019, which will be even better for our next visit!
The garden was a bonus - even in November we managed to eat outdoors. I imagine in summer it would make a welcome refuge from the busy streets and scorching heat. It is overlooked by neighbours, but we had sole us of the space.
So thank you Pietro, we had a wonderful holiday and can't wait to return. Hopefully we can stay for two weeks next time!