Venice is a beautiful place that's so fantastical you need to keep reminding yourself that it's a real living and breathing city and not some movie set for a multi million dollar Ridley Scott flick. It's like a giant maze where you can easily find yourself back where you've come from even though you think you're moving in one direction.
The streets are packed full of tourists but it's also easy to spot the locals who although are living in this weird and magical place, are real people, with real problems. The photo above reminded me of the Black Crows song 'She Talks To Angels'.
I was surprised to see beggars on the streets, but looking back after giving one money, I noticed that the money got emptied from the cup into a bag and only a few coins were left for effect. Then later in the day I saw the scene above, where the guy came along and lifted the bag to check the takings, no doubt he had a string of women making him money all day long.
There was also quite a lot of graffiti on walls which was a contrast to the place and the people who live there. But Venice is an amazing place and I'd be more than happy to live there, if they could just sort out the main problem...an infestation of tourists!