Can We Save Venice Before It’s Too Late?

NY Times ^ | August 29, 2016 | Salvatore Settis

[C19fan]

A deadly plague haunts Venice, and it’s not the cholera to which Thomas Mann’s character Gustav von Aschenbach succumbed in the Nobel laureate’s 1912 novella “Death in Venice.” A rapacious tourist monoculture threatens Venice’s existence, decimating the historic city and turning the Queen of the Adriatic into a Disneyfied shopping mall.

Millions of tourists pour into Venice’s streets and canals each year, profoundly altering the population and the economy, as many native citizens are banished from the island city and those who remain have no choice but to serve in hotels, restaurants and shops selling glass souvenirs and carnival masks.

[pgkdan]

Quick, who said that about Guam?

Play fair. Hank Johnson didn't say it Guam would sink. He's much dumber than that. He said it might tip over.

[SaxxonWoods]

My wife’s favorite city. We have been there several times. Very romantic, no cars, no traffic signals, you walk everywhere or take a water-taxi or the “water-bus”.

Great history, beautiful buildings and canals. We did not find it stinky like some reports. The island Murano is a great spot too, with it’s astonishing glass.

Don’t know that we will go back as it sounds overcrowded now, but there are times of the year when the tourists stay away, winter mostly.

We’re lucky it’s still above water, it’s demise from sinking is just a matter of time.

[SaxxonWoods]

You could say the same for all of Europe. Which is why bringing terrorists in is a death sentence.

[Boogieman]

“those who remain have no choice but to serve in hotels, restaurants and shops selling glass souvenirs and carnival masks...”

Oh, the poor plight of the Venetians. They’re basically chattel, chained to their gondolas I tell ya!

Hey, if they really want to get rid of tourism, just import a few hundred thousand muslims into the city. That will keep people away.

[Trillian]

It smells and has lots of pigeons.

[SaxxonWoods]

Hey, they left out eateries and bars, another great reason to hang in Venice. You meet interesting people from everywhere in those places.

[EQAndyBuzz]

I was just talking about a boat ride in a hotel.

[cloudmountain]

I was just talking about a boat ride in a hotel.

That would be in Las Vegas? I was going to Las Vegas next month with an old friend but she had to cancel because of her health. DRAT. I was looking forward to seeing her in Vegas.

She lives in Texas, out in the middle of NOWHERE and it takes me 17 hours, door-to-door, to get to her house. I just can't do it anymore. VEGAS would have been great for both of us. Oh well.

[cloudmountain]

My wife’s favorite city. We have been there several times. Very romantic, no cars, no traffic signals, you walk everywhere or take a water-taxi or the “water-bus”.
Great history, beautiful buildings and canals. We did not find it stinky like some reports. The island Murano is a great spot too, with it’s astonishing glass.
Don’t know that we will go back as it sounds overcrowded now, but there are times of the year when the tourists stay away, winter mostly.
We’re lucky it’s still above water, it’s demise from sinking is just a matter of time.

Occasionally I buy some Murano glass, just because it IS stunning, absolutely STUNNING.
Italy's gelato is also a work of art, consumable art. YUMMERS. Their lemon gelato is to DIE for.

[Mase]

I’ve never been there. Is it idyllic or dirty?

Depends.

• Been there in August. Hot, crowded and stinky.
  
• Been there in October. There was so much rain and flooding that we walked through the town on planks kept above the water.
  
• Been there in April and January, and it remains our favorite city anywhere based on those experiences.

[avenir]

Interesting. Thanks.

[Gamecock]

Nah, they speak Mexican.

[EQAndyBuzz]

“That would be in Las Vegas?”

It’s in the Venetian Hotel.

[avenir]

Thank you.

[Vaquero]

Ah the fork in the road......take it.

[Vaquero]

Poke em in the eyes.

[cloudmountain]

Yep, did that several years ago, with husband.

[Jimmy Valentine]

They deserve it all for what they did to Byzantium!

[chajin]

Deer dad, where are we going on vacation?
Venice, son?

No, it's too much doe

[dfwgator]

Oh, see the deer. Does the deer have a little doe?

Why soitenly.....Two bucks! Nyuk nyuk nyuk!