THE STREET MERCHANTS OF VENICE

One of the curiosities (or, depending how you look at it, irritants) of daily life in Venice is negotiating a passage down the narrow streets (or 'calles') when the street sellers are busy on their unauthorised – in fact, illegal – pitches. I have been, perhaps, more conscious of their presence this visit as David has trundled me along the crowded walkways in our borrowed wheelchair.

We have seen many such sellers over the years, touting mostly cheap toys: squashy gel-filled creatures that can be thrown on the floor, flatten and then slowly reform; rotary things that can be tossed up in the air and spiral down with sound and/or light effects; or dancing cardboard cutouts of Mickey and Minnie Mouse.

By far the most serious trade, however, is done by the African bag sellers who travel into the city daily on the water buses with bulging bl ack bin-liners stuffed with repro (or, to be direct, fake) D&G, YSL, Gucci, Prada and Armani handbags which they sell outside the shops bearing those very names!

Despite posters discouraging tourists from buying these phony goods...

...their trade never diminishes and whilst they relocate the moment a policeman comes into view, we have only ever once seen the officers give chase. So the turning of blind eyes may indicate some further, dubious street-dealing is going on...  

But, this year's most lucrative trade is, undoubtedly, in 'Selfie Sticks', the gadget that once and for all eliminates the need to try and focus your camera-phone if your arms aren't quite long enough and forever ends the tentative request to complete strangers to take your and your Significant Other's photo...  

The sellers are doing a brisk trade and Selfie Stick photography is the thing to be doing...

So, Facebookers can now look forward to even more shared snaps – with just a bit more background in shot –– perhaps!!