This posting comes as a result of reading a blog I like to read from time to time.
The first photo relates to Michael Henderson's beggar woman. It could well be the same woman, even though the photo was taken in 2008. I presume the poor woman's raised finger is either an arthritic affliction, or possibly a gesture used by her and others to indicate their downcast state and extreme anguish.
The next two photos were shot "from the hip" as I was getting rather unpleasant looks from them.
When I took this picture they were too busy looking out for there police to notice me (and this time I had a longer lens!). The guys who look like they come from the Indian subcontinent were selling tripods and sunglasses. To keep sunglasses clean when you're in Venice you could spit on the lenses like one of the guys did. I'm sure they come up a treat.
In Italy these people sell, ahem, "genuine" goods on the street at knock down prices.
To add to the overall picture I include a video with a live commentary.
I have my own true story to add to the list of tourists caught. As I was passing through the Campo San Fantin (where the Teatro la Fenice is) I overheard an American tourist complaining she had given some money to, ahem, a gentleman. He had just popped off to get her some change. He had been gone a little while and she couldn't understand why he was taking so long. Sweetheart, he had your number as soon as you opened your sweet little mouth.
