Amy

Feeding the pigeons has gone on for at least a hundred years; I thought it was kind of fun to perpetuate the "tourist thing" just once. I figure if I were to worry about germs to that extent, I should just live in a bubble somewhere and die of isolation.

elaine

I got talked into it once--peer pressure and I had that old junior high school feeling of not wanting to be considered afraid or a geek, so I did it. The pictures show me with horrified eyes and wide but grim smile.
When it was over, I said I had to return to the hotel to get my sunglasses, and I'd meet my friends in 20 minutes. Thank goodness for a hotel with a central location. I ran back to the hotel, took the world's quickest shower with hair wash and dry, changed clothes and gave the clothes to the hotel dry cleaning service. If they'd had a clothes boiling service I would have asked for that. When I met my friends soon after, I said I'd changed my trousers because I'd gotten them wet when washing my hands. (Most of my travel clothing tops all look similar anyway--the mix and match approach.) I didn't care if they believed me or not.

marcy_

When we were in Venice, we loved watching the pigeons, and watching little children gleefully chasing them, and we took lots of pictures.

My personal philosophy is that if you worry too much about "germs" and "catching diseases" you miss out on a lot of fun in life!

Mary_Fran

If your girlfriend is worried about pigeon poop, maybe Italy is not the place for her, because pigeons are everywhere in that country.

I snapped a photo of my sister, who is the most fastidious person I know, moments after she was nailed by one of the little buggers in San Gimigano. We blotted off the white trail down the back of her sweater as best we could, and the old girl gamely carried on with the rest of our tour of the city in good humor.

ddkenton

Actually, my mother two sisters and I all have...The multigenerational picture of us and the expressions on our faces as the pigeons fluttered by was priceless! I'll treasure it forever!

RufusTFirefly

Is there an immunization for pigeon poopitis?

aneckc

We were in Venice last summer and my wife was terrified with all of the the pigeons there. Rick Steeves said that if you happened to be "bombed" to let the poop dry and then wipe it off. Otherwise, you'll have a real mess on your hands...and hair. Surprsingly though, neither of us were hit from all of the pigeons. By the way, "Has anyone seen that diamond commercial in San Marco Square? I love it...I love it!" It brings back great memories of our trip there.

SiobhanP

I am terrified of birds especially pigeons. I saw the Hitchcock movie the birds on TV as a child and am terrorised of them ever since! I have improved over the years but now they seem to know my hatred of them and make me target practice every few months. I know its "meant" to be good luck if they get you but I must be either the luckiest or unluckiest person I know. I have been bombed twice in 3 months and once during a particuluary crummy day...just ended it on the worst note. the 2nd time I was all dolled up on my way to work in a nice coat I rarely wear and boom right across my arm. A whole bunch of cars stuck in traffic saw this. Don't stand next to me unless you are willing to sacrifice yourself!

flycatcher06

just love hearing everyones stories - it really seems like they do not poop too often on people from all the stories!

Grasshopper

Pigeon poop has much less "volume" than seagull poop.

Statia

What you REALLY have to watch out for are the seagulls dropping a bomb on you. One hit my vow renewal consultant in San Marco and it nearly sounded like someone shot at her. And, oh was is ever gross. I'd much rather be crapped on by a pigeon.

BlueSwimmer

I have a picture of me with the pigeons in Venice and with the pigeons outside of Notre Dame in Paris, but my favorite travel/bird picture is of me with the giant geese (or swans?) near the harbor in Reykjavik. I have never been the victim of a poop attack.

I have always heard that it's good luck to be pooped on, so you should welcome it. I'm not sure if this is true...or just a way to make you feel better as the poop runs down your face.

Maybe the answer is to bring lots of anti-bacterial wetnaps? I'm personally of the school of thought that whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Of course, all of my bird-touching happened on winter trips, when I was covered head to toe in wool...

Grasshopper

Ha! Statia, we were both thinking seagulls at the same time. I got bombed by one in Rovinj. Very nasty!

Ex_Lux_Astrum

...Tippi Hedren had her picture taken there-she was persistently pecked until saved by Rod Taylor......

ScarlettOHara39

My son loves Pringles and we had two smalls cans in my backpack. He began eating some while we were sitting waiting on my husband. My son gets the bright idea to crumble a handful of Pringles and throw them in my lap. You can only guess what happened next........ Once I got over the shock, we had a great laugh, as did everyone else around us. That's one of our fondest memories of Venice. That and renting a cabana on the Lido.