Notes about Venice
 

My two grown daughters and I returned from Venice two days ago. It was a wonderful trip.

1. A frequent question on this site is how to get to the airport early in the morning. Our plane left at 6:35. The first Alilaguna waterbus gets there at 5:55, too late for us. So we took a water taxi, a steep, steep 95 euros. When we got there, some workers told us that the shuttle bus to the terminal didn't start running until 5 am. However it was a very short, well-marked walk to the terminal.

Don't get there before 5 anyway as that is when the counters open.

2. We stayed at the Hotel Diana, very near San Marco. The staff were friendly and helpful. The room had AC, a safe, and a TV with two English channels. The bathroom had a shower, toiletries, and a hair dryer.

I highly recommend this hotel but I have no idea about the rates as this was in our Go-Today package.

3. I was prepared for it to be hot and crowded. In fact, it was not as crowded as I had expected. The crowds did not lessen our enjoyment. However, the heat did. It was very hot. Take a water bottle with you and drink freely from it.

4. I'm probably going to get slammed for this but I think guidebooks should list the addresses for the McDonald's restaurants. One was nearby and we ate take out from that several times as we usually do when in Europe. It is know and hassle free and when I am tired from walking, trying to speak Italian, and getting confused generally, it is nice to see something familiar.

4. I wish someone could tell me why Venice is filled with black guys on the streets selling knock-off handbags? Just curious.

5. Venice is even more beautiful than the pictures. It is the most expensive city in Europe but worth it.

6. Traveling with grown children is great. I highly recommend it. They were great companions and very solicitous of me.

Glad you had a nice time. We also just returned and loved Venice, as well.

BTW - Those guys sell the same handbags in Florence, too.

I personally don't do US food chains when in Europe, but can understand your thoughts on it.

Thanks for posting the helpful info.

Hi,

Thanks for your posting. Very helpful re getting to the airport.

The guys selling knockoffs are independent reps of Shlockmeister International, ltd. A multinational corporation with outlets in every major city in the world.

You can also get watches, clothing and accessories, antiques and "collectables".

Ain't capitalism wonderful?

I also confess to going to one of the McDonald's in Venice (with my two teens, who were thrilled to have something other than pizza and pasta). Someone on this board who was traveling with children pointed out that the McDonalds are also good for "desperation bathrooms" although they're not exactly pristinely clean.

While Venice is definitely expensive, we found that the simpler pizzas and pastas were a good value--often about 7 Euros and rarely more than 10, even at the restaurants on the Grand Canal. Then, instead of getting desserts at the restaurants, we got gelato at gelaterias, where a single scoop was just 1 Euro.

Ira...saying they sell knock-offs is so tacky. What they sell are replicas.

In the interest of honesty, I must confess that I purchased a replica Tag watch in Florence.

Thanks for the report! We will be in Venice next May for three days. Can you tell of other interesting things you did. Did you take time to wonder the streets and stores? Any hidden gems of interest?

I was also in Venice last week and loved it. My son and I particularly liked the Guggenheim contemporary art museum because it was a nice change from all the Rennaissance art we saw in the rest of Italy. The sculpture garden provided a cool respite from the 95 degree temps. We spent one day exploring Murano & Burano. Took a free water taxi ride out, compliments of a glass factory salesman in San Marco (no obligation), toured the glass museum and shops, and then took the vaparetto to Burano. We loved the colorful houses, gardens, and lack of people. We heard another traveler say that Venice was only worth a 4-hour stop. We were there for 4 days and loved it. I am writing my travel report now, but haven't gotten to Venice yet...look for it under "Familiar Sites-Fresh Reviews" in a day or so.

Regarding the McDonalds, I must say that I went to one in Rome last year, and it had a separate coffee bar, with proper espresso, cappucino, and breakfast pastries like the italian bars had. It was a quick and cheap breakfast. And if you're desperately in need of a clean toilet, I usually just wander into any grand hotel; there are always toilets near the restaurant and meeting rooms, and clean too! I've never been stopped; just pretend you belong there.

In Spain and London, McDonalds serves beer. I was surprised that Italy McDonalds did not.

Dick, do you know that 'replicas' are illegal in many countries? Just mentioning this, because customs at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam just did a blitz and confiscated all fake rolexes, Louis Vuitton bags and other copies of designer products.

Tulips,

I used to think that too until I read about this exception on the US Customs website.

"Articles bearing marks that are counterfeit of a federally registered trademark are subject to seizure and forfeiture. Additionally, the importation of articles bearing counterfeit marks may subject an individual to a civil monetary penalty if the registered trademark has also been recorded with Customs. Articles bearing marks that are confusingly similar to a registered trademark, and gray market articles (goods bearing genuine marks not intended for importation into the United States) may be subject to detention and seizure.


However, passengers arriving into the United States are permitted to import one article, which must accompany the person, bearing a counterfeit, confusingly similar or restricted gray market trademark, provided that the article is for personal use and is not for sale. This exception may be granted not more than once every thirty days. The arriving passenger may retain one article of each type accompanying the person. For example, an arriving person who has three purses, whether each bears a different infringing trademark, or whether all three bear the same infringing trademark, is permitted one purse. If the article imported under the personal exemption provision is sold within one year after the date of importation, the article or its value is subject to forfeiture."

Glad to hear you loved Venice. I will be there again for 5 days this fall.
I stopped in the McDonalds in Venice by Ca d Oro and there was birra (beer)on the menu.
I cant wait to roam the little back canals :)

Dick's reply prompted me to do some research. In general, it doesn't seem to matter whether the product is genuine or fake - what matters is that it be held by customs to be for your personal use. The number of items imported in any given period seems to be the definition of 'personal use.' I ran across a website in which someone attempted to import 7 Beanie Babies, all of the same type, as gifts, and ran into problems with the restriction on 'gray marketing' at Customs. On occasion, the identifying trademark has been cut off by Customs.

Myself, I had been hoping that even one 'trademarked' item would be confiscated. As it is, there goes my plan for getting rid of certain items of clothing of my husband's by sewing phony designer labels on them and then suppressing my glee when the offending items were confiscated....

Thanks for your nice replies. And thanks for your understanding about McDonald's.

aj, we spent most of our time just wandering around. Sometimes on purpose, sometimes somewhat lost. However, our fearless leader, Daughter No. 1, would never admit to being lost. There is something wonderful around every corner.

We went to the island of Torcello one day. It was not crowded at all. We visited the church and my unmarried daughter and I, a widow, sat on Attila the Hun's throne. For some reason it is supposed to ensure that you will be married within a year.

My favorite church was Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari.

I have no restaurant recommendations because we mainly ate pizza take-out or McDonald's. Our one splurge was eating at a restaurant beside the Grand Canal at the Rialto. The setting was magnificent but the food was not good.

Dick and Sue, there was a report on the news in Holland, and it showed customs officers going through suitcases at the airport and taking out any counterfit items. There where piles of LV bags, watches and other fake items that would be destroyed. Sue, just go through Schiphol airport with your husband!

Aside from breaking trademark laws, buying and selling the knock offs reduces the legitimate work force, keeps taxes out of empty gov't coffers, etc. I know these are poor guys looking to make a euro, but what they are doing is dishonest.

Italian police seem to turn a blind eye to those peddlers, not just in Venice, but in Rome and Florence as well where they certainly change the tone of browsing on the Ponte Vecchio. Prague, too, from what I hear.

Tulips,

Piles of fakes are illegal.

But according to the US Customs one fake every 30 days for personal use(not for resale) is legal.

I'm just reporting the facts..I don't understand the logic. To me if 2 would be confiscated so should one.I just took advantage by bringing in only one watch( A real one would have been about $2500).

Sue, I like your logic in getting your husband's old clothes confiscated...sounds like a plan.

aj, what you MUST do is go to Piazza San Marco at dusk. First, buy pigeon food from a vendor and feed the pigeons, who will land on your hand. Second, sit at one of the outdoor caffes, buy the most expensive beverage of your life (roughly 12.50 Euros for a can of soda including music cover charge, more for beer or wine) and soak up the most romantic atmosphere you'll ever experience as the orchestras play and the lights gradually come on. It will be one of the most unforgettable hours of your life.

If you rummage in an interesting shop (and there seem to be hundreds of them) and find something you like, buy it, because Venice is so confusing to get around that you'll probably never find the same shop again! :-)

I completely agree with the suggestion to have an overpriced drink or dessert on the piazza and savor the hour you spend there.
I personally will not do the pigeon feeding again, it was like a scene from "The Birds" and I had to change my clothes afterwards.

Elaine,

I felt like I was in "The Birds," too. My screams must have gotten everyone's attention, as I threw the feed all over the place just to get them off of me. ha! But, I made DH buy another bag of feed for me and promised to maintain the second time. And, I did. It's quite an experience.