Venice Carnevale 4

Rising tides in the Adriatic and the press of tourists and the huge floating hotels that come

in daily and leave a few hours later are crippling the life out of Venice. The City state and

the tour operators make money, but at the cost of the residents, who are abandoning La

Serenissima, year on year. The season starts early, with Carnival, so popular now that

you can hardly move, in St Marks Sq and the narrow passage-ways to Rialto and beyond,

for the press of people and party-goers. Then the early cruise ships start arriving, and

continue throughout the summer, often blocking off the view of one part of Venice from

another. Their passengers disgorge, flood the souvenir shops and are back on board for

their next meal, having 'done' Venice. I was lucky, having 'discovered' Carnival early on in

its revival, but my next trip will be in the winter months. It will be wet and cold and possibly

miserable, but at least I'll see Venice again, not a sea of selfie-takers against a backdrop

of giant sea-borne hotels.

Rising tides in the Adriatic and the press of tourists and the huge floating hotels that come in daily and

leave a few hours later are crippling the life out of Venice. The City state and the tour operators make

money, but at the cost of the residents, who are abandoning La Serenissima, year on year. The

season starts early, with Carnival, so popular now that you can hardly move, in St Marks Sq and the

narrow passage-ways to Rialto and beyond, for the press of people and party-goers. Then the early

cruise ships start arriving, and continue throughout the summer, often blocking off the view of one part

of Venice from another. Their passengers disgorge, flood the souvenir shops and are back on board

for their next meal, having 'done' Venice. I was lucky, having 'discovered' Carnival early on in its

revival, but my next trip will be in the winter months. It will be wet and cold and possibly miserable, but

at least I'll see Venice again, not a sea of selfie-takers against a backdrop of giant sea-borne hotels.