Venice ...
Never Out of Fashion

Thanks to a mean spirited world that still values violence over thinking, travel has become more expensive and generally less pleasant. But a trip to the local mall is not very pleasant either and by the time you buy yet another pair of sneakers and more entertainment gadgets at the franchise stores, you could have booked a flight to Europe.

Of course you could go to Disney World or Las Vegas where they all speak English in fake environments built to look like a city such as Venice. But why not reel in those American fears of different languages and cultures and visit the real thing?

To some "experienced" American travelers, Venice is a cliche. But I have been to Venice no less than six times and in my opinion, the magic remains. In fact, when approached with the correct sense of romance and mystery, this is a city with enough raw imagination to wake the dead. Despite regular flooding and an influx of tourists so damaging that a past mayor of the city actually created an ad campaign to discourage one-day sightseers, Venice is remarkably clean. Historic preservation is alive and well with many of the wonderful buildings being cleaned and restored.

Does it smell bad? ...
     Yes, on occasion.
Can you drink the water? ...
     Not from the canals stupid.
Is the food good? ...
     Nothing special.
Do they speak English? ...
     Enough, but it is Italy.
Is there a McDonalds? ...
     Unfortunately, several.
Can I get a big American coffee? ...
     Order five espresso and make do.
What is the biggest attraction? ...
     Centuries of history!

So why bother? Because you will learn something. For example, you should be able to see why American cities are looking so ugly and feeling less alive. Venice values itself and its' history. Sure, it makes a lot of money on tourism by looking the way it does but that is a very simplistic and flawed rationale for explaining why it remains virtually as it was built over the centuries. To see the local residents darting from one small alley to another with briefcase or shopping bags in hand; steering well clear of the main tourist paths that lead to the amazing and often crowded square at San Marco, you know that there is a day to day life in the city that is not played out for the sake of tourism.

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