Friday, June 15, 2007

Get Up Early



I just got this photo from the Grand Canal webcam. It's 5:30 in the morning and, as you can see, it's deserted.

If you're going to Venice, experience it the way few tourists do--set your alarm for 5 AM, go out and wander the streets. Watch the light change as the sun rises. Finish your morning tour at the Rialto fish market and join in for an early-morning ombre and shrimp sandwich. Then go home and take a nap.

Pearl Jam Blown Away (Literally)

This comes from Reuters news service:

Venice whirlwind injures 25, blows out Pearl Jam gig
Fri Jun 15, 2007 3:32PM EDT

VENICE (Reuters) - A whirlwind hit Venice on Friday, injuring about 25 people and forcing the cancellation of a festival headlined by rock band Pearl Jam was to have played, police and fire services said.

The whirlwind hit late in the afternoon, bringing down sound towers and girders on the stage for the Heineken Jammin' Festival as well as trees in the surrounding park. Several vehicles were overturned by the strong winds.

The damage forced the cancellation of the festival, organizer Roberto De Luca told local media.

The park where the concert was to have been held was on the mainland part of the city and there were no reports of damage in the city's historic centre in the lagoon.

Venice Mayor Massimo Cacciari said 19 people had been taken to hospitals but only one suffered serious fractures, news agency ANSA reported.

Traffic on the bridge that connects the lagoon city to the mainland was temporarily disrupted by debris.

The Friday night concert was Pearl Jam's only Italian appearance on their current tour.

The band sold over 9 million copies of their debut album "Ten" and their track "Man of the Hour" was on the soundtrack for Tim Burton's film "Big Fish."

© Reuters 2006. All rights reserved.

Wednesday, June 06, 2007

Biennale Blog

Want to keep up with the latest from the Biennale? If so, check out the New York Times ArtsBeat Blog. Enjoy!

June 10 update: even if you're not an art fan, you should take a look at this blog. It's well written (as I'd expect from the NY Times) and really makes you feel as if you're in Venice.