Venice Tourist Trap restaurants

[Danmar]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amethyst I can, indeed! Did it involve chandeliers?

No, I found the chandeliers too ornate for our taste. The owner had autographed pictures of famous people all over the place. He seemed to be on a first name basis with Steve Wynn. Should have known then we were in trouble. We bought some individual pieces that would sit on a table or credenza.

Yes I agree Murano grass is beautiful.

[brett]

We follow a few general rules in Venice and in a few other similar cites.

First off, we never bother going into a restaurant that has the menu written out in four languages and most especially one that advertises some sort of blue plate special. If we do walk in and all we hear is English we turn around.

There are a few residential areas in Venice, away from the more touristy areas where you will find something more local. But it will involve some walking, and even better, some getting lost.

[bmcgonig]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danmar No, we bought some. Took a private launch to Murano. Got a private tour of the glass blowing facility, couple glasses of wine, charming guy. You can guess the rest.

I did the exact same with a friend who ended up buying a chandelier!

[Souschef]

Quote:

Originally Posted by brett There are a few residential areas in Venice, away from the more touristy areas where you will find something more local. But it will involve some walking, and even better, some getting lost.

I remember a quote ,"To discover Venice, one must get lost in Venice". That is true. I walked from St. Marks to the Rail Station (Ferrovia), got lost, found a large piazza with almost nobody there, and sat on a bench just looking around and enjoying the atmosphere.

[audreyh1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danmar No, we bought some. Took a private launch to Murano. Got a private tour of the glass blowing facility, couple glasses of wine, charming guy. You can guess the rest.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmcgonig I did the exact same with a friend who ended up buying a chandelier!

Hmmm! Private launch, private tour, wine ....... looks like they got quite a setup figured out over there!

You pretty much self-identify as being wealthy by taking a private tour. Captive customer. And then wined too!

Thanks a bunch! I’ve always wanted to visit Murano, but we’ll have to skip the private tour and wine part.

[MichaelB]

There's a Venetian style glass factory just outside Caracas (ICET Arte Murano) that was set up decades ago with retired artisans from Murano. Some amazing pieces, and the factory is on-site to watch them create. Some really beautiful art work - at least, once upon a time; nowadays I understand they've shifted heavily into the more "lower skill / easily produced" products.

We used to get them as gifts for family and friends, but I stopped when my sister got married. I bought a beautiful decorative, very colorful plate, but the x-ray machine in Miami didn't like it and it set off an alarm that upset the security folks. Probably had something to do with the minerals used for colors - iron, zinc, manganese, cobalt. Seems airport security is unusually sensitive to those.

[audreyh1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MichaelB There's a Venetian style glass factory just outside Caracas (ICET Arte Murano) that was set up decades ago with retired artisans from Murano. Some amazing pieces, and the factory is on-site to watch them create. Some really beautiful art work - at least, once upon a time; nowadays I understand they've shifted heavily into the more "lower skill / easily produced" products. We used to get them as gifts for family and friends, but I stopped when my sister got married. I bought a beautiful decorative, very colorful plate, but the x-ray machine in Miami didn't like it and it set off an alarm that upset the security folks. Probably had something to do with the minerals used for colors - iron, zinc, manganese, cobalt. Seems airport security is unusually sensitive to those.

Wow - at least they let them retire and leave! During the Renaissance artisans were kept captive on Murano, and assassins sent after escapees. Venice did not want to lose trade secrets.

[Danmar]

Quote:

Originally Posted by audreyh1 Hmmm! Private launch, private tour, wine ....... looks like they got quite a setup figured out over there! You pretty much self-identify as being wealthy by taking a private tour. Captive customer. And then wined too! Thanks a bunch! I’ve always wanted to visit Murano, but we’ll have to skip the private tour and wine part.

Exactly. Whenever I accept a “drink”, I know I’ve just bought something. Happened in Istanbul too. Nice rug though. Oh well, what are you gonna do?

[Chuckanut]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danmar Exactly. Whenever I accept a “drink”, I know I’ve just bought something. Happened in Istanbul too. Nice rug though. Oh well, what are you gonna do?

In Istanbul I ran into a very charming fellow whose cousin was "the president of the World Bank". He could not understand why I did not want to have tea with him and gain a 'friend for life'. Another fellow tried to lure me for drinks in a bar full of beautiful women. Yeah, I know how that ends - I pay for $400 bottles of champagne. Why in a predominantly Muslim country would I trust a guy who wants to drink and womanize?

Other than a few con-men, I found the Turks to be wonderfully warm and good people. Twice I was chased down the street by store employees when I forgot to pick up my change. It's unfortunate that the Turks have to live in such a tough 'neighborhood'.

Back on topic: I recommend that one stand in front of the Leone di San Marco, face the water, and go left. After about a 20 minute walk (more if a lot of tour boats are in), there is a beautiful park bordered by wonderful houses and palazzi, a few bars which are not very busy, with prices 1/2 or less of SM square.

[kcowan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danmar Exactly. Whenever I accept a “drink”, I know I’ve just bought something. Happened in Istanbul too. Nice rug though. Oh well, what are you gonna do?

We had a specific requirement for a 3 foot wide runner that was 10 feet long. Took them 2 rounds of apple tea to admit defeat!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chuckanut In Istanbul I ran into a very charming fellow whose cousin was "the president of the World Bank". He could not understand why I did not want to have tea with him and gain a 'friend for life'. <snip> Other than a few con-men, I found the Turks to be wonderfully warm and good people. Twice I was chased down the street by store employees when I forgot to pick up my change. It's unfortunate that the Turks have to live in such a tough 'neighborhood'.

Yes a very friendly place with lots to see and do. We thoroughly enjoyed it during our 8-day stay.

[Danmar]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Souschef I remember a quote ,"To discover Venice, one must get lost in Venice". That is true. I walked from St. Marks to the Rail Station (Ferrovia), got lost, found a large piazza with almost nobody there, and sat on a bench just looking around and enjoying the atmosphere.

Agree. I’ve walked this several times. Really fun, never know what’s around the next corner. Easy to get a little lost and that’s part of the fun. Worked out several different routes.

[Nemo2]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danmar never know what’s around the next corner. Easy to get a little lost and that’s part of the fun.

Doesn't everybody do this everywhere? We just up and wander aimlessly......"Let's go down here...there..." Never knowing what we might find.

Quote:

“A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving.” -Lao Tzu

[Chuckanut]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nemo2 Doesn't everybody do this everywhere? We just up and wander aimlessly......"Let's go down here...there..." Never knowing what we might find.

Yes, I do that quite often when traveling. At times, I will identify two bus stops, subway stations, etc. a few walking hours apart and spend 1/2 day or a day, just wandering between the two. When I get tired or have seen enough, I head towards one of the stops and get a ride back to my room.

[Nemo2]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chuckanut Yes, I do that quite often when traveling. At times, I will identify two bus stops, subway stations, etc few walking hours apart and spend 1/2 day or a day, must wandering between the two. When I get tired or have seen enough, I head towards one of the stops and get a ride back to my room.

In cities we will often buy a metro day pass....jump on a streetcar/bus/subway without knowing where it's going, get off on a whim, wander around, and eventually attempt to make our way back...so far, so good.

[Danmar]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nemo2 Doesn't everybody do this everywhere? We just up and wander aimlessly......"Let's go down here...there..." Never knowing what we might find.

Maybe to varying degrees, but Venice is a particularly good place to do it. Probably because there are no cars and the streets are so narrow and convoluted. Not to mention all the canals. For instance, Dubrovnik wasn’t quite as interesting as the streets are pretty much laid out in a grid and there are no canals. Otherwise. Lots of fun.

[Nemo2]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danmar Dubrovnik wasn’t quite as interesting as the streets are pretty much laid out in a grid and there are no canals. Otherwise. Lots of fun.

Last time in Dubrovnik, outside the walled city, we wandered around an old church/graveyard and ended up in the middle of a wedding party......always something to see and remember.