Gondoliers’ strike reduces Venice’s romance

Lovers who flocked to Venice this weekend, hoping to celebrate Valentine’s Day with a romantic trip aboard on one of the city’s gondolas, were disappointed as all of its 400 gondoliers went on strike. According to The Guardian, the three-day protest began on Saturday, just as the city “began to fill with couples”. Passengers were reportedly stranded and canals blocked by the gondoliers, who are protesting at a ban on gondolas in the morning rush-hour. City authorities have stated that gondolas must not be used between the hours of 1am and 10.30am, because of an increase in accidents on the city’s waterwas, but the gondoliers reportedly claim they are being unfairly persecuted. Roberto Luppi, president of the gondoliers’ association, is quoted as saying: “We really cannot see how rowing boats can constitute a danger to water traffic.” He added that motor boats represent a bigger threat: “The grand Canal has become a motorway. They go down one-way canals the wrong way. No-one respects the basic rules any more.” Luppi reportedly “asked for forgiveness” from tourists. Report by Tim Gillett, News From Abroad Ltd