Letter from Italy

Veneto. The Land of Venice. Venice is built within a lagoon on 118 small islands that are separated by canals and connected by more of 400 bridges. No roads, canals are the only viable rapid transport system. When you get sick the ambulance comes to take you to the hopspital but, ehm ... it is a boat. If we are naughty the police come, also on a boat. And so the fire brigade, the rubbish collection, the Guardia di Finanza (The feared Tax Authority), the water taxi, the water bus (Vaporetto). Why Vaporetto? Vaporetto means "little steamer", from the time of steam power. Want to go to the airport? Take a boat. A hard life? No. Simply lovely.