I’ve been lucky enough to witness two recent events in Venice that indicate to me that this ancient city is, in fact, being kept rather up-to-date with modern technological advances. The first was a sheer coincidence this past weekend, that I happened to be in the same place as a fellow wearing on his shoulders [...]

I was just out on the Strada Nova, having purchased a cup of limone gelato, when I heard some scuffling and heavy steps nearby. Looking up, I saw two plainclothes policemen running off in two different directions, trying to corner one of the vucumprà, the African street vendors who hawk illegal counterfeit goods to stupider [...]

Thanks to my efforts to learn Italian before heading to Venice back in 2007 (with the help of software, tutors and CDs), I arrived in Venice this summer able to buy my boat tickets into the city without having to resort to using any English. Since those first few days, I have continued to pick [...]