Intersections: Cameras block the beauty of Venice

As the vaporetto waddled to its next stop, I heard the roars of a camera-wielding, fanny-pack-wearing group — all strangers, but somehow physically similar to each other — who came to claim whatever extra standing space was left around me. It was a rampage of obnoxious tourists.

Some recorded video while leaning over me to take pictures with large, expensive semiprofessional cameras. Others took photos of themselves, hoping to catch the stunning Venetian view and end up as the envy of all their friends on social networks. They were loud and brash and had recording devices of all brands, sizes and shapes permanently glued to their hands.

They were the reason that stands hawking souvenirs of highly questionable taste outlined the city landscape; that finding a restaurant with reasonable food was virtually impossible. If there weren't special set-price “tourist menus” advertising spaghetti Bolognese and pizza, the fare consisted of hot dogs and hamburgers.

Walking in an orderly manner with enough space to move your arms wasn't even attemptable as crowds stopped every few steps to take a photo of something, anything, to have evidence of their Italian adventure. Finding a vaporetto that wasn't full to the brim of human bodies was a futile effort.

After a few days of being forced to stare at a bevy of Birkenstocks on boats without any space to breathe and lumbered between families traveling with irritable infants and strollers, I was ready to hurl myself off into the deep blue unknown.