Buongiorno Venezia

a suggestion by Janet from S.Francisco:
“I have respectively and unobtrusively visited your magical city several times and have been horrified that so many people (residents and tourists alike) toss cigarette butts into the water and the streets. In many places in California I have noticed, recently, relatively “not too-ugly” receptacles for snuffing them out and disposing of them. They look to be made of ceramic or dark metal and shaped not unlike a fat bowling pin! I looked on the Web and there are many manufacturers.”

well, thank you for your suggestion… though the main problem of garbage collecting is not about tossed cigarettes… here, may i suggest a simple “quit smoking”?

i must admit it was my first Elton John’s concert. and it was fabulous. i think that after listening to the live performance, i won’t be able to listen to any of his pieces recorded in studio. looking more and more confident every minute — we can only guess his emotion of singing in St.Mark’s Square — he conquered the audience with a memorable version of “Rocket man”. thank you!!

let me re-open a thread posted by venice lover:
“Why cannot the police round up those counterfeit bag-sellers and send them packing? I was in Venice last week, anfd thought that the bags now do not appear to have the “designer” names on them, but something that looks like or sounds like the famous name. I think I saw “Grada” instead of “Prada”, for instance. But, at least with the bags, the customers do get something for their money, and most people, I think, know they are buying a fake, though that doesn’t make it less of a crime. No, I think that the worst con-trick is the worked by the people who sell the “dancing” Mickey Mouse and other Disney character figures (no doubt with no copyright payments to Disney). I know that the people buying them must be stupid to believe in magic, and I believe that they are sold for only about 5 euros, which isn’t really a lot, but they too should be rounded up and shipped out of Venice.”

well, as a matter of fact people are not buying not-counterfeit bags as much as the fake ones!! so never assume good faith. instead, i can understand the thrill in the dancing mickey mouse: people know it’s going to be a 99 percent trap, but people buy it all the same because they feel part of a little miracle, as venice is so special. so in my opinion they buy a special memory, the souvenir of themself feeling as innocent and happy as a child. and at home, they’ll laugh at themselves
or am i wrong?