Stereotyping....eh!

Indians have been worried about the national image being cast in the bad old dirty-toilets-and-rope-tricks mould in the run up to and during the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi. But probably no Western country is as stereotyped as Italy. Pasta, pizza, scooters, Mafia, pickpockets - from 'Roman Holiday' to 'Eat,Pray,Love', from travel books to Ipad app-the same images flit across. No wonder, Italians are complaining (oops, that is a stereotype too!).

The Billboards of Venice

Venice today is one big advertising board albeit a tastefully designed one. But it has a crucial benefit, funding the tottering city's maintenance. Link.

Book your holiday to Venice, online

The city of Venice is will soon open an online booking service that will give tourists advance booking discounts for their holidays. From February 1, 2009 visitors will be able to book tickets at the prime attractions - the Correr Museum and the Ducal Palace- as well as city-edge parking space and bus and vaporetto rides.Using color codes for days (red-crowded, blue-medium and green-empty), visitors will be able to book convenient days and pay reduced prices. For instance,on green days, a typical three-day package for two people will cost 209.30 euros online compared to 247 if paid after arrival - a saving of 31.70 euros. Bookmark this link, http://www.veniceconnected.com/, next month.