The Merchants of Venice

A number of years ago, I enjoyed my last trip to Venice. And I do mean my last.  Too many of their “merchants” turned out to be thieves.

Venice is noted for its beautiful art glass sculptures.  I purchased several for about $8,000, and delivery by air express was promised. But a month later, I still hadn’t received anything.

I telephoned the merchant, who suddenly had trouble understanding English (even though he understood me perfectly when I made the purchase). I conferenced in an Italian-speaking representative from American Express.

What an instant transformation.  After offering several lame excuses, the merchant promised immediate delivery.  Clearly, he did not want to displease American Express, a powerful corporation, even though he hadn’t cared a bit about pleasing me, his customer.

While I still enjoy the sculptures, I obviously harbor negative feelings about the experience.

That same merchant had directed us to a restaurant owned by a friend of his.

“Just let him take care of you. Don’t bother with the menu,” he said.

Feeling special, I took his advice. Dish after dish was served to our party of eight. Prices at that time should have warranted a total tab of no more than $50, to which I had planned to add a generous tip. But the check, when it arrived, was for $300. I was appalled.  I left no tip.

That evening we stood in line for three full hours, waiting for a water taxi to return us to our cruise ship. We finally called my nephew, who was already back onboard. He woke up the concierge, and thirty minutes later a water taxi appeared. While our party was accommodated on that taxi – the operator left many other cruise passengers stranded (even though it was only half full).  Apparently, the trade unions run the water taxis – for their own benefit, not for us “tourists” even though tourism is at the heart of their economy. This attitude certainly doesn’t bode well for a city dependent on tourism.

I’ve read that Venice is gradually sinking into the sea, and that its lowest point, St. Mark’s Square, is flooded about 100 days a year.

I’m never going back, and I wish the merchants of Venice a hearty “bon voyage” as their fiefdom slowly sinks into the Adriatic.

I look forward to every one of those pirates going down with their ship of prey.

Aside from that, happy new year.

Alan