Venice's funky side

[NorthernFocus]

We're still poking around Italy. When I get some time I'll catch up with some photos from our cycling trip through Tuscany and some shots from Florence (an amazing city). But now we're in Venice. Being water lovers this place seemed like it would be a natural fit. Unfortunately we've had some bad weather though this afternoon it cleared and promises to be better tomorrow.

As could be seen from the photos I posted from Rome, we tend to do our own thing when we travel. We also tend to stay a bit off the beaten track as far as accommodations. Well this time we out did ourselves. Here's a photo of my bride standing at the front door of our funky little apartment in a back alley of Venice.



And just a shot of a small back water canal that we crossed while wandering around during a lull in the rain.



Assuming I don't blow myself up with the moka kettle in the morning I hope to take advantage of the promised clear skies and get out early for a few shots before most people are stirring

[Shadowman]

Nice captures.

[NorthernFocus]

Thanks, John. Since the question is bound to come up. Here's a B/W version of the canal. I like the colors but there is also a lot of texture.

[Mike Buckley]

Those are the best parts of Venice as far as I'm concerned and your compositions show them well.

[NorthernFocus]

Thanks, Mike. It's still raining this AM so after a morning walk (sans camera) we're relaxing with some good Italian coffee and sweet bread. Hoping for something other than grey, featureless skies for some broader shots of the town, particularly the waterfront/grand canal areas.

[ionian]

Nice pictures Dan - I particularly like the colour version of the canal. I think it shows plenty of texture and that terracotta colour is beautiful.

Just out of curiosity, are you travelling with a dslr or something lighter for the bike?

[NorthernFocus]

...Just out of curiosity, are you travelling with a dslr or something lighter for the bike?

Sony a6000.

[bnnrcn]

Lovely shots Dan, IMO the color image of the canal looks better than the B&W

[Kaye Leggett]

I agree with Binnur.

Have fun - I hope the sun comes out for you. And I hope you're finding some of the back water Osterias - try Ristoteca Oniga in Dorsoduro, it's a gem

[Manfred M]

You bring back some memories of our trip to Venice a few years ago. I think just about everyone who has taken pictures in Venice must have the same view from the bridge that you have in your second shot. While I can see the attraction of the B&W, but find that what I loved about Venice was the wonderful colours of the buildings.

I remember just wandering around town on our second day there and poking into the various side alleys, shops and market booths away from the main places that tourists frequent, where the real Venetians lived.

[NorthernFocus]

Thanks for the comments, folks.

Binnur, I agree the color image is much better. The colors of the buildings here are amazing. Then again so are the textures so lovers of B/W could make their argument as well.

Kaye, while we really love the fresh produce, cheeses, meats, and fresh pasta, shocking as it may sound overall we're not overly impressed with Italian cooking. They do make some fantastic sandwiches with fresh ingredients and good bread. Our last four days have been in an apartment and we've done our own cooking. We bought some pre-mixed seasoning for pasta sauce, fresh pasta, salad fixings, and sausage/meatballs from a butcher shop. And of course a nice bottle of vino. Had the best meals of the trip.

Manfred, I have to say I've never seen a town with so much potential for imagery. Colors, textures, architecture, water, age, unique characters etc. It's overwhelming.

[IzzieK]

Dan...I prefer the colour version with the canal too. It reflects more of the essence of Venice than anything else. In my mind, the B/W one lacks that.

[Dave Humphries]

+1 to Izzie's words and sentiment; the colour makes it Venice for me (although that said, it probably applies to much of Italian architecture, come to think of it)

[george013]

Thanks for the comments, folks.

Binnur, I agree the color image is much better. The colors of the buildings here are amazing. Then again so are the textures so lovers of B/W could make their argument as well.

Kaye, while we really love the fresh produce, cheeses, meats, and fresh pasta, shocking as it may sound overall we're not overly impressed with Italian cooking. They do make some fantastic sandwiches with fresh ingredients and good bread. Our last four days have been in an apartment and we've done our own cooking. We bought some pre-mixed seasoning for pasta sauce, fresh pasta, salad fixings, and sausage/meatballs from a butcher shop. And of course a nice bottle of vino. Had the best meals of the trip.

Manfred, I have to say I've never seen a town with so much potential for imagery. Colors, textures, architecture, water, age, unique characters etc. It's overwhelming.

You mostly eat a tourist menu in those places. And that can be anything.

I wrote this before. Venice had 175000 inhabitants just after the war, now 60.000. Yearly amount of tourists is 30.000.000. This is 500 times as much as the own population. The big square is visited every day by about 74.000 people.
You rented an apartment. I don't know what you mean with this, but probably an apartment where a Venecian should live. Don't misunderstand me, I don't blame you. It's a wonderful way of travelling but there is also another side. What's going on in Venice is a nightmare for more European cities especially Barcelona and Amsterdam, but also Berlin. It started with airbnb and organisations like that. Cities didn't find an answer for this development yet. This weekend I read Berlin forbid the rental of complete apartments to tourists. It's only allowed to rent a room when the renter is there him/her self. Airbnb offered 11000 apartments and had to remove half of it directly.
I see around me in Amsterdam houses with a social function being rented to toursits. I just spoke to a girl owning an apartment on the second floor and she has every day different neighbours above and under her.
If you're interested look for some documentary on Venice dealing with this problem. "I love Venice" is one of them. This is a link to a Dutch tv-station, 2013. http://www.vpro.nl/lees/gids/dagtips.../woensdag.html It's Dutch subtitled and Italian spoken. There're some Italian members here.

I like the photo's. Maybe a bit over saturated for me. Try to get some more dynamic in them, show the story as it is.

I look forward to see more pictures.

George

[NorthernFocus]

You mostly eat a tourist menu in those places. And that can be anything....

We tend to avoid the tourist spots. When we travel (USA or abroad) we try to pick eateries that are frequented by locals. Over here if they have an English section in the menu we usually don't stop.

...You rented an apartment. I don't know what you mean with this, but probably an apartment where a Venecian should live...

Unfortunately the world turns on physics and economics. Without tourism, what else would people here do for work? I grew up in a tourist heavy area and currently live in one. When I was young, even though I worked in the tourist industry, I resented visitors. Now I recognize the economic realities that many places where industrial production has moved away are only viable due to tourism. Now, no doubt like most locals, I just want them to leave their money and go home

[Nicola]

I try to summarize as much as possible my thought....
About what George mentioned, it's almost a nightmare, I agree with you, and the doc you linked is pretty interesting, sorry most of members nearhere can't understand.
What Dan replied is rather correct. I just think these issues generated by the tourism are some of the many drawbacks of globalozation, as well as the production lines moving to cheaper and exotic countries.
In the second half of the last century, many manifacturies were present where you are now wandering as a tourist, and tourists were not so many. Nevertheless I think we can say people hasn't improved its life.
History teachs not all the changes introduced by mankind are actually good changes.

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[Mike Buckley]

Berlin forbid the rental of complete apartments to tourists.

Berlin just lost me as a potential tourist, as I prefer to rent apartments. I have about four weeks of vacationing planned this year and only two days will be spent in a hotel.

[Manfred M]

Berlin just lost me as a potential tourist, as I prefer to rent apartments. I have about four weeks of vacationing planned this year and only two days will be spent in a hotel.

While this is a bit off topic, I quite agree Mike. We prefer the apartment route as well, but in general only if we are planning to stay in one place for a minimum of close to a week. It's a bit more problematic for short stays as a lot of places seem to want one week minimums. Frankly, it's less about cost than convenience - I don't like eating out every day, especially getting up and out for breakfast or a quick bite in the evening. I sometimes just want to chill out and it is so much convenient if you have a couple of rooms in a nice location.

I understand (to a point) why some cities are putting in restrictions (often reacting to pressure from the hospitality industry), but in my view, it is a wonderful way to travel.

[george013]

Berlin just lost me as a potential tourist, as I prefer to rent apartments. I have about four weeks of vacationing planned this year and only two days will be spent in a hotel.

No Berliner will notice you don't come. But if those houses are used to place a family there just to live, that they will know.


@Dan,
On the radio today. China is sending 4 policemen to Venice to help with the growing amount of Chinese tourists. There live a lot of Chinese in China.

Unfortunately the world turns on physics and economics.

No, the world turns on people.
Venice is news at the moment. Venecians want to close the big places and ask a fee to enter, somewhere about 25 dollar. Might be a solution. On the other hand Venice only for the wealthy tourists.

@Nicola,
I'm glad you appreciate the doc. There're versions with Englisg subtitles too. I just don't know where.
https://www.idfa.nl/industry/tags/pr...1db409&tab=dfs

@Manfred,
I've the same ideas as you. But that shouldn't close our eyes for the problems.

George

[Nicola]

On the other hand Venice only for the wealthy tourists.

@Nicola,
I'm glad you appreciate the doc. There're versions with Englisg subtitles too. I just don't know where.
https://www.idfa.nl/industry/tags/pr...1db409&tab=dfs

George

25 euro don't affect the budget needed to reach venice and spend some days there. Maybe coming from an other continent.

The claims on the doc are currently argued daily here in Italy, since almost everywhere these issues are percieved...

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