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”?

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?

Ever wondered about drinking customs in Venice? Embark on a video tour with comedian Zane Lamprey

some recent troubles with posting comments. please refer to this post, thank you

i’m passing on a message:

I have a deal to offer: There is a friend that is selling 2 tickets for the Ennio Morricone concert on September 10. The tickets are for Row 15, Seats 3 and 4 and they cost 187 Euro each, but they are selling them for only 100 Euro a piece.  My friend can airmail the tickets to Venice and the payment could be arrange directly with her.  

Let me know if you are interested.
i’m not willing to insert my email address here, but please click here and leave a message if you are interested.

no mystery, i’m among those venetians (50 percent) who disapprove the fourth bridge on the grand canal (calatrava’s bridge), mainly because it will prove terribly expensive for the city and it was not among its priorities. that, and the mose system, are good candidates to become the most useless enterprises of the 21st century.  

New thread by Logan Smith:

This Oct while in Venice, I want to plan a long
day-trip via train and/or bus to “A Farewell to Arms”
country to the northeast, as apparently there is
no guided tour available. I don’t want to rent a car.

There are frequent trains from Venice to both Gorizia
and Udine–but not, unfortunately, to the mountains
of Kobarid, Slovenia (formerly Caporetto, IT). There
may be bus service between Kobarid and both Gorizia
and Udine, but I’m at a loss as to how difficult it
would be to plan a smooth one-day trip from Venice, or
if it’s even do-able without a car. I’m game to try,
but any help will be appreciated.

Does anyone know if it is possible to travel from Venezia to
Kobarid, Slovenia, stay a couple of hours, and return by bus and/or train?

25 is the lucky number for Rough Guides, at its 25th anniversary. 25 new guidebooks, and a hit parade of world wonders: not 7 anymore, but - guess? - 25. Venice (which is already a UNESCO heritage site, btw)  is among them. needless to say, the  current exhibit at Palazzo Grassi had not opened yet, otherwise i hope the Rough Guides would have remarked the exception.

The Sistine Chapel, and the whole city of Venice are listed for Italy (which might have deserved something more).

Natural wonders: Victoria waterfalls (Africa), Grand Canyon (Arizona, US),  Perito Moreno glacier (Patagonia, Argentina), Ayers Rock (Australia), Salar de Uyuni lake (Bolivia).

Wonderful experiences: riding the Rio de Amazzonas, crossing the Sahara desert, trekking on Himalaya, snorkelling in the Belize coral reef. 

Art and architectural wonders (and temptations): Las Vegas, Sagrada Familia by Gaudì (Barcelona, Spain), Taj Mahal (Jaipur, India), Angkor Wat temples (Cambodia), Itaipù dam (Paraguay-Brazil)