The First Step

Buon giorno from Venice, erstwhile capital of a maritime empire, now reduced to a tourist theme park. No internet at our current hotel, so this post comes via Blackberry--forgive the brevity but marvel at what man hath wrought.

Here is how to know if you have a gambling problem: If, when you visit Venice for the first time, you develop a stong sense that you've seen this all before somewhere; that you've spent many, many hours here--and then you realize that the "somewhere" is the Venetian hotel/casino in Las Vegas, you have a gambling problem.