tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151589473709505648.post966676327383844632..comments2024-03-29T10:30:21.072-04:00Comments on venezia blog: 2 Noonday Views of Cannaregio, Today Steven Varni, aka Sig. Nonlosohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10066672605318740533noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151589473709505648.post-91148070274390229942018-01-23T12:54:15.845-05:002018-01-23T12:54:15.845-05:00Thanks for your comment, Anonymous, and I think it...Thanks for your comment, Anonymous, and I think it's generally important for people to remember that if they're reading this or any other other blog on Venice they're instantly separating themselves from the "eat and run" crowd of whom Venetians are sometimes less than fond. The problem with that crowd is they can't be bothered to learn anything about the city, they're in a rush, they're looking to grab what they can, or to simply exploit the city for some "extreme" personal experience. As you point out, Venetians know the difference between this kind of visitor on a rampage and those like Andi, and for that reason the latter have no reason to feel guilty, no reason to feel they have something to prove. Steven Varni, aka Sig. Nonlosohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10066672605318740533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151589473709505648.post-61134263705015368572017-12-25T05:33:30.658-05:002017-12-25T05:33:30.658-05:00Thank you for the great post and for your answer t...Thank you for the great post and for your answer to Andi. There's tourist and tourist, and Venetians appreciate who truly shares their love for the city.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151589473709505648.post-92146779551679776192017-12-20T09:18:55.625-05:002017-12-20T09:18:55.625-05:00Thanks for your comment, Andi, but I think it'...Thanks for your comment, Andi, but I think it's important to remember that there's generally a big difference between Venetians' attitude toward the overwhelming mass of tourists who clog the city and those 1 or 2 or 3 tourists with whom Venetians actually have a chance to interact at a particular moment. When we talk about the "tourist problem" in Venice we are talking about the undifferentiated mass AS A MASS, not as a collection of individuals, almost all of whom--with very rare exceptions--are quite pleasant. Sure, the rare hooligan tourists are the ones who get the headlines and, yes, there may be Venetian cranks who dislike anyone who can't speak Venetian (including full-time and now long-time resident "outsiders" such as myself), but most Venetians are perfectly willing to deal with the visitor or visitors right in front of them quite kindly as individuals. That is, when they are given the chance to interact with them AS individuals, instead of as a relentless wave of humanity washing over the city. <br /><br />I understand shyness, but it seems a shame not to speak a language in which you're fluent when you visit the country in which it's spoken--and if you can bring yourself to speak Italian in other parts of Italy, you should most certainly do so in Venice without fear. In fact, I think it's safe to assure you that almost without exception Venetians are especially pleased to encounter visitors who speak Italian and you'll find a whole new Venice opening up to you if you do so. Steven Varni, aka Sig. Nonlosohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10066672605318740533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151589473709505648.post-55746234258800166982017-12-14T12:24:57.721-05:002017-12-14T12:24:57.721-05:00Precisely the reason I use the entirety of my time...Precisely the reason I use the entirety of my time off now that I have graduated university to visit Venice (and only Venice) every December. However, it is always a little bittersweet; I have loved this city since as a very troubled child I saw photos of it in books, and something about it seemed to help me, and I subsequently devoured every other book I could get my paws on related to it ever since. I worked very hard to be able to go there- it was a driving goal for me. I am careful about which lodgings I pick, usually staying with a friend from Marghera. I'm even careful about how and where I spend my money so that I support local business owners as much as I can. I'm a very anxious person so I'm always a little worried that people secretly hate me because I'm in that 'tourist' category (though I'd give anything to be able to call myself a resident! Struggles and all, would be worth it to me.) I'm even too scared to talk to people or go in some shops or restaurants, even though I'm fluent in italian - unless my friend is with me and I can have him speak for me (I can't speak venetian...yet. He can.) I've never received anything other than the most gracious hospitality and friendliness, though, so hopefully my love shines through? Cheesy, but one can hope :) -Andi (NY, USA) Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com