I guess if she fell in a lake and nearly drowned, you can understand her parent's point of view, but I personally would have insisted on swimming lessons a long time before this!! How old is she again to have her parents still be insisting what she does? My mother had swimming lessons at the grand old age of 76, because she couldn't swim well and always wanted to! Anyway, I'd go first class too and go to Venice without her another time!

Yep, I agree, take them up on their offer and go back w/o her with the money you have saved.

Are you going to have to swear to them that you will go to a place completely without water?

I do think they are just fanning her fears to keep her under their wings, that would bother me, but I guess you are used to it. Maybe you can edge her a little towards the coast?

Those are some really sick people. They need help.

This topic has certainly given me some things to think about. The next time I visit to a hilltown, I'm taking along bottled oxygen in case of pulmonary edema from the altitude. And I'm cancelling my visit to Pisa for obvious reasons.

If they feel so strongly about it that they will pay for the trip if you don't go to Venice, I agree; Go to Venice another time without her.

Stay away from Rome. Too many fountains.

Why not get them to pay for you to go to Verona?
You can then hop on a bus and go to Venice. Of course Lake Garda is probably out too!

Faith : The situation they've now put you in stinks - but I see your point. Bruges (only for a day or two) might also be a new option now, just to give your cousin a taste of what she's missing.

You all are funny people - Thanks again!

This post has just cranked up my urge 100% to return to the lovely Venezia for a second visit!

Tam

I agree with Rufus--those parents need professional help. I sure hope they haven't been this controlling and obsessive about this issue their child's whole life. And how old is this "adult" child of theirs? Can she not form opinions on her own?

After playing dodgeball with cars on sidewalks, vespas, bikes and the general chaos that makes Italy such a delightful mess, we found Venice a car free oasis of relaxation. If you're feeling like you need to wear a lifejacket in Venice, then you should probably consider wearing a helmet as a pedestrian in Florence and Rome....hmmm, maybe that's not such a bad idea :-)

As for those controlling, manipulative parents - I wouldn't take a penny of their dirty money, you're just acting as an enabler for their head games. However, if you do take their money, I'd go to Venice anyway. These people deserve to have their strings pulled for a change, it might even be considered therapeutic for your cousin to break out of her shell.

Wait a minute, NYCFS is gracious enough to "thank" Holly for the Rosalba/e-mail suggestion and then Holly comes back to bite off NYCFS's head because NYC can't find any corroborating documentation? Then, after Holly screams with condescension at NYC, Holly accuses NYC of being crude and classless? What's wrong with this picture?

This thread is funny and so are many on this board. Now, if you'll excuse me, it's time for my swim.

I think we have the characters and plot for a novel here!

Byrd

I agree with 39Steps. Take their money and go to Venice anyway. Hopefully, little cousin will get a backbone and cut those apron strings. She should take a traghetto ride, standing of course, and you can take a picture of her doing so. What a souvenir to give to Mom and Dad! It's a shame that parents who can afford to send their child and a companion on a first class trip to Italy couldn't have spent some money on that child earlier in life to give her proper swimming lessons.

It would be wrong to take the money under false pretenses.

Either take the money and don't see Venice, or don't take the money and see Venice.

Well the tip about not watching 'Summertime' before the trip is a good one..but then again, while Katherine Hepburn did make it out of the canal, she apparently never got over the nasty eye infection she'd gotten there. It goes to show 'ya..ya always worry about the wrong things.

So much material on this forum for years and years of comedy, keep them coming!

The plot thickens: We have decided to celebrate her 40th Birthday in Italy. Yes, 40! (but this means we will have to travel in March).

She has lived a charmed life in her parent's guest house, working as a wedding decorator when she gets bored. She is a lovely person really and I think it is time she lived life instead of watching it in old movies, which she does every day.

I'm going to call her when I have a few minutes and get started planning, I'll start a new thread for tips. I have a few ideas up my sleeve....

A "wedding decorator" whatever next?

40 years old? I thought she was perhaps 19 to 21. If she wants to go to Venice, she should definitely earn the money for it.