It’s not an April Fools’ Day joke: Venice is giving tourists water pistols to ward off seagulls
You might be given a water gun to fend off hungry birds the next time you travel to Italy. And no, this isn't an April Fools' Day joke.
In recent years, the city of Venice has responded rather ingeniously to some of its most modern threats, ranging from a state-of-the-art £5 billion flood defense system (about $6.55 billion) to combat rising water levels to a 5 euro (a little over $5) tourist entry charge helping to offset overtourism — a levy that comes into force following an outright ban on cruise ships docking in the city center.
But recently, the Venetian hospitality industry has been responding to an entirely different type of danger: the humble seagull, which has become so brazen in taking food from visitors that hotels have now begun fighting back by arming guests with water pistols.
In addition to serving finger food under napkins to fool the birds, a handful of upmarket hotels in Venice are now placing water guns on tables so guests can scare off the birds. Diners are urged to aim the guns at any winged intruders when they find their food threatened.
Speaking about what caused the armament, Enrico Mazzocco, manager of the Monaco & Grand Canal hotel, told The Times it came down to an incident involving a pastry. “We decided to act after a customer lifted a croissant to his mouth and a lurking seagull dived and snatched it from his hand," Mazzocco said.
Other premium hotels around St. Mark’s Square and San Marco soon adopted the tactic, eventually introducing bright orange guns after the color was found to be of a particular dislike to the birds.
It's been successful by all accounts, too. Just the sight of the gun has reportedly been enough to drive seagulls away from visitors, Paolo Lorenzoni, director of The Gritti Palace, a Luxury Collection Hotel, explained to the ASNA news agency.
"As soon as they see the pistols," he said, "they fly away. You don't even need to use them, you just need to keep them on the table.”
What may sound like a bit of jaunty PR for hotels is actually more serious than you might imagine.
As the birds have become an increasing nuisance around lagoon-based landmarks, hotels and restaurants have suffered as a result. Tourists have been put off from dining outside, and waiters have frankly had to deal with more than they should, costing these establishments money and time.
Related: These are the best times to visit Italy, now restrictions are easing
This has been no more apparent than inside the eternally busy St. Mark’s Square, which is so often a magnet for anti-social gulls on the hunt for a warm meal and a landmark where locals have long debated what to do about the birds.
Indeed, where eradicating French Fry thievery is concerned, all options are on the table.
The Venetian Hoteliers Association, which backs the water pistol scheme, has also discussed other strategies to scare off seagulls, including special electrostatic pulses and acoustic systems, and possibly even falcons. (Seriously, this isn't an April Fools' Day joke.)
“We could introduce a falcon-sharing system between hotels with one falconer sending a falcon to cover different terraces,” said Claudio Scarpa, president of the association.
Needless to say, we're looking forward to the inevitable battle between laser-donning hawks and falcons in the next few decades.
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.