Archive for the ‘this week's newsletter topics’ Category

isn’t it lovely

Monday, September 22nd, 2008

I quote from the current issue of BUONGIORNO VENEZIA….

There is a new webcam in Venice: the view over the Calatrava bridge. Under the magnifying lens of architects from all over the world who have been visiting the Biennale Architettura, the fourth bridge across the Grand Canal, designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, is still in the news… with some instructions for use.

Opened two weeks ago at midnight, the new bridge has been visited by the president of the Italian republic, thus receiving its official approval. People are crossing it with interest, curiosity, and a little fear. While the surface appears slippery, it’s not as bad as expected, but the “false” double steps are deceptive. Pedestrians are advised to pay careful attention when walking down the steps.

Aesthetics has a price. And the price goes beyond the exorbitant construction costs to include constant maintenance. The brass handrail, for example, is already the pigeons’ favourite resting spot and, though it is continuously cleaned, their droppings leave stains on the brass. Even raindrops are spotting the brass, but keep in mind that YOU will be fined if you dirty the railing or spit chewing gum on the steps.

The bridge required six years of work instead of, as originally planned, a little more than one, and it cost twelve and a half million euros instead of four (plus eleven million more in additional expenses which are at the centre of various legal arguments). Those expenditures, however, pale beside yearly maintenance expenses of forty million euros. At the moment, none of the bridge’s accessibility devices for the disabled are working… to be continued.

it’s because we needed to see the sky…

Monday, March 31st, 2008

… or the underwear??


the Calatrava bridge

this week’s newsletter talks of:

  • Mutual exclusivity — more hotels and fewer tourists?
  • April Fool’s Day — the best date for joking about money
  • The 20-point handicap — each unforgivable
  • and, last but not least

  • The Calatrava Bridge’s private views

this week’s newsletter

Tuesday, February 19th, 2008

 The works on the Calatrava bridge are speeding up. This is the first effect of the inspections. Let’s see what happens next. For the ones of you who contacted us for info about this story: we are preparing a comprehensive report which will be ready in a couple of days.  And the point is not discussing if Calatrava is a good architect or not; the point is that bridge is a nonsense, and it’s probably not his fault.

this week’s issue of Buongiorno Venezia talks of:

  • Seaside peaks… and financial valleys
  • Six restaurants trading in Blue Stamps
  • A rocky cinema connexion on the Lido 
  • No kidding, it’s a pizza
  • Italy’s top art exhibitions

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the incapables

Monday, February 11th, 2008

It’s not a movie. It’s real life.

The titbit of the week is about the first results of the inspection of the works related to the fourth bridge on the Grand Canal. A name for its baptism, that has been postponed sine die so many times, should be the incapables’ bridge. Frankly this appellative, that according to the tradition has to follow the name of the designer, is not as evocative as other bridges’, but that is cruel reality: an endless yard on which citizens have to spend a fortune. With a very Italian word that unfortunately lacks in grace, a true “casino” in which technical, civil, penal and, last but not least, moral responsibilities are involved.
The verification is a sort of triumph for the angry citizens, though they are aware of being the ones and only to pay the price for it with their taxes. This ugly and useless bridge – all began with a draft on a restaurant napkin that rapidly turned into a madness story - is a great shame that, evidently, involve also the people who have neither stopped it nor borne all the well-founded criticisms.

this week’s issue of Buongiorno Venezia talks of:

  • Calatrava: the hopeless bridge. Supervisory authority has recently published its observations on it.
  • Twenty-two Academy nominations for movies screened at the 2007 Venice Film Festival.
  • Dads’ attack

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this week’s newsletter

Wednesday, February 6th, 2008

hi everybody…

this week’s issue of Buongiorno Venezia talks of:

  • MOSE strikes again: the mayor strikes back
  • Carnival is on the skids: unmasking the blameworthy
  • No room at the Biennale: the Vatican may need divine intervention
  • Bridge over troubled water: prosecutor summons Calatrava
    documents
  • A sexy traffic policewoman who seems a little wooden

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Happy New Year from our Mayor….

Sunday, January 6th, 2008

mayor cacciari

Massimo Cacciari, the mayor of Venice, addressed a Happy New Year message to the Venetian residents through YouTube. The video can be watched at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUGWbGGT2TkThe speech is in Italian, and we’ll offer a very short explanation in our upcoming newsletter BUONGIORNO VENEZIA. For the ones of you who can understand Italian.. enjoy the original audio.  YouTube informs that “Adding comments has been disabled for this video”. But you can comment here on our blog.

this week’s newsletter

Monday, July 23rd, 2007

this week’s issue of Buongiorno Venezia talks of:

  • Redeeming the Redeemer: feast: fireworks, and controversial music
  • Yesterday, today, and tomorrow at the film festival
  •  Deadly cargo: three bodies discovered in a truck
  • The ongoing curse of Ca’ Dario
  • Death in Venice: an old friend is remembered

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this week’s newsletter

Tuesday, July 17th, 2007

this week’s issue of Buongiorno Venezia talks of:

  • Mose System experiences a financial low tide.
  • The new Redeemer’s Feast
  • A jury of film directors at the festival
  • Sansovino’s precious panels return to St.Mark’s
  • Venice to Rome by… gondola

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VeniceWord’s Summer Contest

Tuesday, July 10th, 2007

Many loyal subscribers have told us over the years that they save their Buongiorno Venezia newsletters for future reference. We are curious: who among you has saved the most? Count the issues and let us know via our good old contact form http://www.veniceword.com/form2.html We’ll ask the winner to submit proof before awarding them one night in Venice for two :-). [Our English-language editor at Wordsworth & Company has graciously withdrawn from competition, since he has kept a copy of every newsletter since May 2003. I wonder how he can sleep at night :-D ]

Brand new old apartments

Tuesday, July 10th, 2007

Thirty-nine “brand new” apartments are for sale in Venice. In the historical centre of Venice over the course of the last three years, 800 apartments have been turned into tourist accommodation: hotels, bed & breakfasts, and rooms to let. Now the trend seems reversed: old palazzi and humble houses in the most popular areas of Venice are being restored and sold as apartments, ranging in size from 50 to 120 square metres. Prices are not for all buyers, and small studios are, obviously, more affordable — especially for foreigners. Thirty-nine apartments (which are being called “new” though they are located in ancient palazzi that have been totally renovated) are about to be completed and can now be viewed. Restoration work will be complete by late 2007 - early 2008. Customer assistance is available in foreign languages, and information can be obtained using our contact form at http://www.veniceword.com/form2.html