Does anyone know about the Gondola strike that was announced on the news stations yesterday? I can't imagine how disappointed the tourists must have been!!!

Yeah apparently the gondolas are run by a mafia type union. They didnt like the Africans selling fake purses on their turf.

I was going to put it a little differently by saying that there's a great picture on page 3 of today's New York Times of many gondolas lined up and blocking the Grand Canal just near the Rialto Bridge.<BR><BR>I know nothing about the union, but the picture caption did mention that the gondoliers feel that "illegal" immigrants selling "contraband" on the streets of Venice is off-putting for tourism and allegedly hurts the gondola business.

Why the quotation marks around "illegal" and "contraband?" I'd bet my left arm that that's exactly what they are. <BR><BR>I certainly don't mind legitimate street vendors, but these guys selling fake purses and other crap (dancing Mickeys, electric barking dogs, roses, bibble makers, etc.) in Venice really clutter up the whole area. The worst was when they'd stake out the bridges - I'm sure that's what the gondoliers are most upset about. It was crowded enough without them blocking the path everywhere.

The Nigerian street vendors are illegal,and the store keepers that we have talked to are very unhappy about their activities. They say the illegal vendors are responsible for a lot of non publicized crime( non-publicized so it will not hurt the tourist industry). <BR><BR>The vendors lay their fake purses, etc. on a blanket in front of stores, and when the police come near, the vendors quickly gather up their wares, and step into the nearest alley.<BR><BR>There are a lot more vendors in Venice each time we have been there( every year for the last seven years). I have wondered where they live in Venice.<BR><BR>If people would not buy from them, I am sure it would discourage them. The goods they handle are so obviously fake looking that I wonder why people do buy from them.

Pat, do you know anything more about the unpublicized crimes? Heading to Venice and would like to be aware. Thanks

I doubt they live in Venice. You see these vendors all over Europe on the trains, getting off at the major tourist destinations.

I was walking along the Arno in Florence (another haven for these guys) and through an open sidewalk-level window you could see about five guys sitting around a TV in a small basement room of a building on the street. My guess is that they probably share a room between 5 0r 10 at a time. <BR><BR>Walking around Venice early one morning, I saw several guys heading towards San Marco with about 10 purses hooked around each arm.

Great! Let's hope they get rid of those rediculous Micky and Minnie Mouse Rip Offs and the GI Joe that scoots along the grown shooting his gun!

Thanks for the info. Really all those vendors really cheapen the areas. I would have loved to just walk down the narrow streets and not see any of those people, --- a real eyesore, especially quite near the gondola stations, etc.

Is it just the gondoliers who are on strike, or does it involve the vaporettos, too?

I really don't think that the report mentioned vaporettos striking. I could be wrong though. What a mess that would have been.

I do wish you people would spare a thought for these African vendors....please remember they are human beings too and life is not easy for them.

Pam,<BR> It was only the gondoliers and was just a one-day action as I understand it.