We all collect and pay sales taxes in the state where we have our business. But how will you manage and pay taxes in 50 states with some 9,600 different tax districts? This very important bill is being hidden in with other important legislation in the hopes to get it passed without notice by the very…
Tag: Venice
Vajont 50 Years
This year marked the 50th year anniversary of the tragedy of Vajont. They were situated in a remote and beautiful area about 100km northeast of Venice, just beyond Vittorio Veneto along the Piave River valley and the roadway which eventually leads through the Dolomiti to Austria. Looking up at the dam from the valley below…
Favorite Quotes on Venice
The Grand Tour: In the 17th and 18th Centuries the young wealthy of England and later joined by those of the US, were sent for 2 to 4 years traveling around Europe to broaden their horizons and give them a bit of culture. It became known as the Grand Tour. Probably the beginning of the…
Making Round Murano Glass Beads
The round is our essential bead used in almost all designs. It is the easiest bead to make. You need only a mandrel, a torch and some glass. It all begins with the selection of the glass canes. We use Effetre, known generally in the industry as Moretti. It is a soft glass with a COE…
Traffic Jam Cruise Ships Venice
Since its birth, Venice and La Serenissima have survived the invasion of the Ottomans, the French, the Spanish, the Popes, the Austrians (and I have probably left out a few), but the invasion of the giant ships may be the last straw. The weekend of 21 September saw an invasion of the giants in numbers never…
All About Gondolas
The origins of this boat date back to 1094, written in the records of the Doge Vitale Falier. Paintings and drawings from the late 1400s and early 1500s document their prevalence in society, though not as elaborate as the 1800s. Today there are approximately 500 gondola in Venice, all controlled by the society. This is a…
Incident on the Grand Canal
It has been a difficult summer in Venice, Read about the major Incident on the Grand Canal.
More Traffic on the Grand Canal
The discussions on how to best control the traffic in this narrowest stretch of the winding canal continue, in official meetings, between residents, and is rehashed daily in the newpapers. Vested interest abound on all sides, with no one wanting to give an centimeter (literally). And I can’t picture the Grand Canal without all these wonderful…
Pickpockets & Gypsies – Oh My!
UPDATE on the problem with Gypsies!This summer has seen more “gypsies” in Venice than normal and they have gotten progressively more aggressive. Their newest business ventures are selling vaporetto tickets, baggage handling and tourist information.But there’s a bit of a hitch in these new ventures.(1) They are selling used vaporetto (imob) tickets they have recovered from the…
Cruise Ships in Venice
Update: Cruise Ship Comes Dangerously Near Venice Read about the fight to ban these “Mega” Cruise Ships from Venice and the “No Grande Navi” Protests.