VIP Parking in Venice!

[Vince2]

This is what VIP secure parking in Venice looked like on our recent Italy road trip! - (The caged animal!)

Let's just say Venice was SO busy, even the Gondolas were backed up!

 

[ChrisQP09]

Crazy scene! They ought to do something about the onslaught of tourism, particularly from the cruiser liners.

 

[Vince2]

Think they've stopped that now since one crashed into the dock a few weeks ago.

 

[safrane]

Nope... they just have to stay in the larger lagoons... still discharge thousands every day.

 

[Felonious Crud]

Good car park!

I was talking recently to someone from Venice. He said that many of the restaurants are owned by Chinese businessmen and the place has lost its personality. Hopelessly over-crowded with tourists, cruise-ship **** and not the place it once was.

All that said, I think it's a beautiful city (but haven't been for around 8 years, so it may well have changed a lot in that time).

 

[Vince2]

Good car park!

I was talking recently to someone from Venice. He said that many of the restaurants are owned by Chinese businessmen and the place has lost its personality. Hopelessly over-crowded with tourists, cruise-ship **** and not the place it once was.

All that said, I think it's a beautiful city (but haven't been for around 8 years, so it may well have changed a lot in that time).

There is no question, it has got to be one of the most beautiful places you have to see in your life BUT, they are a victim of their own success.
What spoilt it for us was the 'cheap' market stall type outlets all over the place selling 'tat'. There are plenty of nice shops so why they allow them is beyond me. By the way, the shops and restaurants were reasonably priced. We bought an ice cream each from a corner shop in St Mark's square for 2 Euros each! Later had a nice meal sitting near a canal for 44 Euros (away from St. Mark's)
All in all a great day but we don't feel the need to rush back too soon.

 

[Nayf]

There is no question, it has got to be one of the most beautiful places you have to see in your life BUT, they are a victim of their own success.
What spoilt it for us was the 'cheap' market stall type outlets all over the place selling 'tat'. There are plenty of nice shops so why they allow them is beyond me. By the way, the shops and restaurants were reasonably priced. We bought an ice cream each from a corner shop in St Mark's square for 2 Euros each! Later had a nice meal sitting near a canal for 44 Euros (away from St. Mark's)
All in all a great day but we don't feel the need to rush back too soon.

Always has had an element of that though
I last went when I was a teenager with my parents and the amount of I love New York T shirts was hilarious. Are New Yorkers that homesick?

 

[bigbob]

Good car park!

I was talking recently to someone from Venice. He said that many of the restaurants are owned by Chinese businessmen and the place has lost its personality. Hopelessly over-crowded with tourists, cruise-ship **** and not the place it once was.

This is completely true and you can see it in the ethnic mix of the tourists - as with most expensive places the real tourist money has now shifted away from North Americans. I go to Venice most years and it has changed a lot, the population has roughly halved as non-Italians buy second homes and holiday let purchasers push up property prices. The real Venice is still there as long as you walk at least half an hour away from St Marks - personally keep away from there until after about 9pm or just don't go in the summer, trouble is Venice gets very cold in the winter!