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Manners Police
Venice
Not surprisingly, birds are a thorn in the side of officials in Venice, since pigeon droppings are brutal on old statues and buildings. But the city has a bigger potential pest on its agenda these days: uncouth tourists who, according to city officials, traipse around shirtless, sit down in the middle of sidewalks, and—avert your eyes!—dare to eat sandwiches there too. Since last summer, “volunteer angels” have been on patrol to intervene in any flagrant pec-flashing or panini-noshing. The volunteer “angels” are reportedly made up of about 50 locals, mostly women who range in age from 20 to 60. Some are multilingual. They’ll give offenders a friendly warning, but can also flag a traffic cop to fine offenders. Where to Spot Them: The angels stroll St. Mark’s Square between noon and 2 p.m. daily—look for their orange vests or a badge with the St. Mark’s Lion logo or the City of Venice logo.
