Destination: Venice by James Langford

Throughout the ‘20s, ‘30s, ‘40s and ‘50s, Venice – in books and in movies -- was the perfect setting for mystery, murder and international intrigue. And, it is easy to understand why.

Even when there are 40 billion tourists there, as in the summertime, you can take a small turn to the right or the left and find yourself walking alone down a narrow passageway, hemmed in by buildings that are tilting over your head, full of shadows and noises that just might go “bump” in the night.

But they don’t. The wider thoroughfares are full of little boutiques with names such as Gucci and Versace. The jewelry stores and the shops selling leather products, from belts to skirts to coats are quite fantastic. The more narrow streets are filled with more shops, with friendly shop assistants, quite excellent merchandise, and some of the most fascinating restaurants you’ve ever encountered.

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