Cruise Ships in Venice - restrictions overturned

[Ann]

I agree, Chris -- makes me want to return to Croatia. And we loved the real Buza!

 

[Heidi]

Yes Ann, Villa Adriatica, our favorite sobe in Dubrovnik! Isn't it in a sweet location?

Shannon, is that where you'll be staying at the end of your tour? Cool! I haven't been there since I took my youngest niece on her grand tour, which included a week in Dubrovnik. Not much to do there but I needed the break after Austria, Venice, Orvieto, Roma & then on to London after Dubrovnik. I wasn't exhausted from the travel adventure but I'll admit watching over an eighteen year old with major cleavage, did me in...

Really enjoyed reading your blog posting ~ it brought back wonderful memories. On one of our old maps, I saw my husband's writing "Hole in the wall ~ somewhere around here" with an arrow to the general location I really need to work Dubrovnik into my next trip. We've been going there, off and on, since '84 ~ even went in, on a whim, in '94, as the war was winding down. The city was in shock; many roofs and some buildings were gone from the bombings; large gouges in the beautifully smooth Placa from mortar hits; no airport in Cavtat (just a below ground bunker); most cars had been hit from enemy fire from the surrounding hills, making them scarce... It was sad... but there was still life at a few of the bars in town... maybe even your favorite one.

Are you leaving soon? Have a great time!

 

[Shannon]

Heidi, I will be at the Villa twice - for three days before the first tour starts (then I will move up the street to another place I love) and at the very end of the second tour (with my second group, which is smaller.) I am really looking forward to my stay there and meeting the family, who I have heard are wonderful. But that is totally off topic

I arrive in Dubrovnik April 24 so maybe I will post a pic from the veranda for everyone. Not of the cruise ships though!

 

[Heidi]

Yes, we have segued off topic ~ sorry! ~ but, Shannon, how wonderful! Sounds like a fabulous trip. I hope you enjoy Villa Adriatica. It's not a hotel, as some reviewers assume, where linens are changed daily. It's rather funky... in a cool way, but, oh that terrace! A photo would be great!

The Tomsic family is very nice & accommodating. They have had many hardships to endure, as when Teo', the oldest son, had to take over management when his father was diagnosed with MS...

Luna, their lab, is a sweetheart. (looking for a doggie icon, but we have non.)

Buon viaggio!

 

[Ann]

"Oh that terrace! A photo would be great!"

 

[Heidi]

Well, just adding an update on the cruise ships being allowed back into Venezia:

On the very day on which the Bacino San Marco was reopened to large ships,
one of the mega cruise ships slammed into the passenger deck in the port...

Here's the article in Italian.

 

[Roz]

I just started reading the latest Donna Leon book (By Its Cover), and only a few pages in, Guido makes clear his feelings about those cruise ships, which, as he tries to make his way in his little police boat, are blocking out "the city, the light, all thought of sense or reason." He is discussing the situation with his pilot, who says that there are 8 separate agencies in control of the issues around the cruise ships. Guido wonders why they divided it up among so many, and his pilot looks at him as if he is a bit of a dunce, saying, "Do you think 8 separate committees are ever going to reach a decision? ... They can consider and reconsider forever, while getting their salaries, making inspection tours to other countries, hiring their wives and children ... and picking up small gifts that might fall from the table of the companies that own the ships."

 

[Pauline]

In today's Independent (UK): Giant cruise ships that block the Venice views and threaten foundations are to be banned from passing through city's heart

 

[Dana]

Yes, it does seem like they are finally going to do it, too: today on the BBC http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-28728841

 

[Lindy]

this tidbit was in our local Victoria, BC paper this past w/e, so maybe, just maybe there will be a solution on the horizon....fingers crossed all.

http://www.timescolonist.com/life/h...-s-st-marks-studies-alternate-route-1.1304124

 

[Heidi]

Well, an important date looms... Friday October 17th is the deadline for comments and objections to the proposed "new" solution to the Venezia/cruise ship dilemma ~ dedging Canale Contorta Sant’Angelo ~ to allow cruise ships to enter through the back door of Venezia and effectively banning them from passing by San Marco. It appears this "solution" may conjure up even more drastic environmental issues for Venezia and its fragile lagoon.

Here is one of many articles from The Art Newspaper explaining the problem with "the fix". Anna Somer Cocks, one of my heroes for her stand against the big boys, has two articles about this issue: The importance of mud to Venice &
Unesco threatens to put Venice on its Heritage at Risk List.

What a complex issue...

 

[Dana]

Complex indeed. Thanks for the head's up on this, Heidi. The Venice Cruise 2.0 project sounds the best- just keeping the behemoths out of the lagoon altogether. I guess we'll find out what they decide tomorrow...

 

[Heidi]

The Venice Cruise 2.0 project sounds the best

I agree! Here's an article, Venice and Cruise Ships - Saving an Awkward Romance, which gives a nice overview of the "Venis Cruise 2.0" proposal. When I clicked on their "Venis (why is it spelled this way?) Cruise 2.0" link, a 57 page pdf document came up. Of course I didn't read the whole thing but the pictures/diagrams where very helpful in understanding the floating dock out in front of the MOSE flood gates -- well away from Venice proper.

 

[Dana]

It looks, sadly, like the Venis Cruise proposal is a goner with the latest mayoral elections and a new pro-cruise ship mayor of Venice:
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jun/15/venice-mayoral-poll-cruise-ships-luigi-brugnaro

 

[Pauline]

Argh!

 

[Heidi]

I read the article with dismay! How can the *powers that be* choose commerce over saving their city? I suppose lining ones pockets is a more desirable - rewarding - goal, than the long term conservation measures... Heavy sigh...

I'm in Dubrovnik watching the cruise boat tourists fill the streets but at least the the monster ships no longer seem to anchor in the picturesque, small "old" harbor - right under our "sobe" terrace... They may have instituted some size restrictions here? Not sure about that but in our five days here, so far, the tour groups seem to be coming in by bus from the commercial port of Gruz and entering the city through Pile Gate.

Still lovely here in the early mornings and evenings