Could it be? A change in the transit system? Beep.
May 24, 2007 Instructions for Use, vita venexiàn
Addio, paper vaporetto tickets, the ACTV is adapting the most advanced smart card ticketing system in Europe, according to the announcement: one magnetized pass will take you anywhere in the system, land or sea, depending on the options you’ve purchased, and can be topped up at will. We won’t show them to anyone as we board, we’ll just be sliding and beeping, like the Paris Métro without the stairs. And it won’t be just for transport: they have plans to include options for museum entrances, events, and more.
The name’s Imob.venezia, thank you very much, and was introduced with much fanfare last week. The system will be phased in little by little, operational from November and paper eliminated by the end of March, 2008…it can’t come too soon for me.
Of course, this doesn’t make figuring out how to get from the Zattere to San Zaccaria without going to Giudecca any less confusing…but it’s the little things. Bravi, bravi.
Read Italian? Check out the article in the Gazzettino.
Cell for less within the EU
May 23, 2007 Instructions for Use, vita venexiàn
Just listening to a (welcome) announcement on the BBC that said roaming with your Euro-cell within the EU is set to be reduced by as much as 70%! Do you know what this means? At least telephonically, Europe is that much closer to being a Union. Bravissimi!
So, if you’re traveling with a French cell, an Italian cell, a Spanish cell, and so on, you’ll no longer suck the life out of your pre-paid SIM by calling your friend in that other country who’s coming to meet you tomorrow. Or, if you’re a writer living in Venice and traveling to France to check out travel information, you won’t pay as much to stay in touch back home by phone as for the entire round trip airline ticket (economical as myair.com is).
Oh, this is SUCH good news…even if we may have to wait till 2009 to have it completely implemented. For more info, here’s the Businessweek article that explains it all for you.
La Fenice all’improvviso.
May 18, 2007 vita venexiàn
I am the occasional, grateful benefactor of a ticket to a Fenice performance, grazie a my voice instructor, Sara Bardino. She’s a season ticket holder, and due her own complicated schedule, can’t always attend. When I receive one of her prized, last minute text messages, spotting the words, abbonamento - Fenice - stasera, I never even check to see what’s on, I just reply with a quick, Si, ci sono, con tanto, tanto piacere.
Che t’aggia fa…whaddya gonna do?
May 3, 2007 beyond venice
Venetian video, this? Macchè! But ragazzi, they don’t make ‘em any better, anywhere. Grand, veteran cantanti Mina and Adriano Celentano portray a couple of animated fowl with some touchy domestic issues: she can’t cook, and until he puts a little more effort into the bedroom department, she ain’t learnin’, either. Italian language students, listen for the “southern” accent; and see if you can spot at least one take-off on a famous Mastroianni-Loren film scene…
It gets more enjoyable every time you watch it…credimi.
