Photos Kay Davies and Richard Schear
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| Young Venetians who love the canals |
However, there are so many lovely spots, as in the photo above, and so many quintessential Venetian scenes (see the canal below) that imperfection is somehow hard for tourists to imagine.
Rumors and stories now have it, however, that this ancient city will soon be closed to cruise ships.
I think I can understand that. Passengers who disembark to explore the city might buy souvenirs, yes, but they don't stay in local hotels, and might not even visit local restaurants.
Some tourists, instead, leave trash on the narrow sidewalks, and throw things into the canals so beloved by Venetian citizens.
It's all very well, however, for me to say "off with their heads!" because neither of us had ever been averse to exploring the city before sailing away with hardly a look back...
I don't know if there is any one answer to the cruise ship question that will satisfy all, but Venetian officials are studying the situation seriously and, of course, at some length.
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| A wide range of water transport is available beneath Venetian skies. |
While wandering Venice during our first visit, years ago, we loved to spot our hotel from a short distance, knowing that this church door marked our stop to leave the vaporetto and turn left to the bridge and from there to to the hotel's own door. Not simple, but certainly scenic.And my question
in the header above?
Much has been written about the possibility of a Venetian cruise shutdown but we'll never know until everything has been discussed, until all the decisions have been considered, made, reconsidered, and probably re-discussed.
http://www.travelandleisure.co
https://www.theguardian.com/
I'm not quite so grateful, however, that he made me walk a vast distance from his hotel to the cruise ship port a year or two ago when I joined him for a cruise down the Adriatic Sea and up the Mediterranean Sea to Barcelona.
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| Large and healthy husband Richard Schear |
I might, some day, forgive him for dragging me, on foot, speedily (not my preferred speed: I couldn't keep up) through all the ups and downs from the Venice airport to the cruise ship terminal.
I had been quietly and peacefully visiting with friends in Scotland and England while he wandered Venice to his heart's content. I then flew out to join him for a cruise down the Adriatic, then up the west coast of Italy, and across to Barcelona.
It's been a little while now since that trip, and I still let him get away with being flagrantly healthy in spite of my hobbling ways.
Posting for Our World Tuesday
that marvellous meme from Fiona in Sweden.
28 comments:
Hari OM
Golly, if you found our hoon around the Highlands to be quiet and peaceful, I can only sympathise with what was awaiting you on the Med!!! Fond memories. YAM xx
Glad you both enjoy health! I understand what a swarm it is when one of these big ships land in a small place. The people of Molokai have made it clear they cannot handle. Good post
Venice is one place I have always wanted to visit. Lucky you! Wonderful pics.
That top picture is perfection, Kay. It felt like a fantasy being there. I loved Venice and feel fortunate to have visited there expecting that one day it will be off limits to mass tourism. With ocean’s rising it’s in danger of extinction and really ought to be a museum of some sorts, although that would surely entice crowds … something they understandably are trying to minimize.
You know, that makes perfect sense to me.
Around here they are all for biking tours. They don't stay here. They don't spend money. If it is a long tour, they camp at the high school, for example.
Then there is the Rideau Canal, they eat on their boats, they don't spend money.
It's all inflated.
Good post, Kay.
(ツ) from Cottage Country Ontario , ON!
Darn those flagrantly healthy people anyway!! But I know the memories of the beauty last longer than the pain. It looks so beautiful there ... can't say I would blame the city re. the cruise ships. Although that is the only way we would ever be able to see this city (I am still hoping we can stay healthy enough for a European River cruise at some point in the near future (there isn't much other kind of future really at this point).
...thanks for the info on a place that I will most likely never visit!
A way out could be to charge all those coming in on cruise ships, a cover charge redeemable in the city.
LOL! Walking is the only way to see Venice - and preferably leisurely to enjoy all the sights and old buildings. I think that banning cruise ships is a good idea. The place is still heaving with tourists anyway.
It must have been a lovely holiday - despite being dragged all over the place on foot. I wonder what will happen with the Cruise ships but I have a feeling they'll sort it out.
Hi Kay, i wonder always why you call yourself Unfit, maybe because your husband is very fit, hehe. I actually envy you for having a partner like him. I am disappointed that i haven't been to Venice, just to Rome. Venice is so famous that its semblance has been sprouting in some cities of the world, like ours here in the Philippines. But may i ask you, i wonder how they treat the water disposal systems from the households very near the canal.
I have been in Venice several times too, it's not so far from the Garda lake where Mr.G. comes from. It's a real interesting city especially when you have a local friend who shows you the city from another view than the tourist lane.
Wonderful pictures!
Hi Kay. A confession. I have no desire to visit Venice! Yes I'm an oddball but give me the natural world any day over the man made world and i think i was put off by once watching a TV programme that portrayed Venice as "smelly". As for Richard - that was a bit mean but I'm sure he had a piece of your mind dashing ahead like that.
Don't worry. We are looking after your Mr Trudeau at Number 10.
Have fun you both.
I like this city too. The last time I visited the city during the legendary carnival disguised as Mohr of Venice. An unforgettable experience.
Best regards
I'd love to visit Venice. Tourists can be nightmare.
There's really no other way than going with the gondola to see the city. But much more fun to walk (even though like you I'm not a walk-er) and explore. Yes, it would be a lot more inconvenient to get to Venice if they ban the cruise ships, but if it is to save Venice, I'm all for it!
I so admire you guys for all your travels and Italy, England and Scotland are all places I'd love to go. We were in Italy decades ago and as much as I wanted to go to Venice, we didn't. I hope the city isn't shut down to anyone.
I'm sitting here with pea soup on the burner and snow coming down heavily. I'll have to get off my culo (pronounced "goo loo" by my grandparents) and take some photos because as unbelievable as the last two snowfalls were, this one's a doozy. It's as good as I've seen all winter, wait, it's April 18th.
Thank you so much for your sweet comment and jazzy piano tunes!
I love your writing style, and you... let's get together. Just kidding, how in the world would we but I know if we did we'd never stop talking and laughing. Venice is my dream vacay but Don't know if I'll ever make it so far. Thanks for showing me the pics.
I wouldn't blame them, from what I've read it sounds like tourism is out of control there. I live in a city that's overrun in the summer - approximately 500,000 people live here, and we get over 20,000,000 visitors a year. In the summer you simply stay away from the most popular spots, and they're talking about only allowing shuttle buses to get to some of the top ones during the summer.
Wonderful pics of a dreamland. Nature surpasses all our expectations.
Thanks for your good wishes!
Hi! Nice trip to Venice. I think walking is very good way to see many beautiful places. I want to go there in a future. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for sharing your Venetian journey. It's such a beautiful adventure. I haven't been there yet but it's in my bucket list.
A few unthinking people always ruin things for the rest. Powell River has ferry service from two directions, but tourists often get off one to the south and drive to our town to get in the lineup to take the next ferry over to Vancouver Island. That's bad for business but good for keeping our small town quiet. - Margy
Hi Kay, I had heard there were moves to stop cruise ships going to Venice. I understand they think they are also damaging the canals so I can understand it. As you know we are hoping to do this cruise next year and if we can't start in Venice we will certainly stay a few nights there before we leave. Your photos make me want to go all the more. Cheers Irene
Beautiful place.
It was interesting to read your post today, as we will be visiting Venice for the first time in May - not on a cruise ship though. We are looking forward to exploring Venice in the short time we have there.
Happy travels. and thank you for stopping by my blog today. Yes, "unfitties" can still have adventurous travel!
There's still so much you do. My saluted.
Stay cheerful. Keep writing. :)
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