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“Can I ask you a question? ”
Unfortunately, the question was not whether I was the late great Orson Welles attending a film festival in Venice. The question was about politics, our cover blown as American tourists.
The Lovely Doreen from Waukesha and I were seated at a tourist-trap restaurant along the canal where we just ordered bruschetta and a caprese salad to share, with a touristy pizza to follow. Across from us, two men from Birmingham, UK, were just seated by our waiter/host, a man with a sparkle in his eye and always the best table waiting just for you.
After exchanging greetings with Neal and Liam, they laughed along with my wife as I massacred the Italian language while ordering dinner.
“What do I know? I’m just a dumb Irishman.” I forgot that “Americans” are all Americans, and if you say you’re Irish the European will ask you from where on the island are you from. This small confusion was quickly cleared by the Lovely Doreen mentioning we visited Dublin last year. This led to the four of us discussing the greatest brewery tour on Earth, the Guinness Brewery. (Somebody from Milwaukee should figure out how to replicate the experience here.)
A comparison of our travel itineraries with our new companions showed Neal and Liam headed in the direction from whence we came, the Dalmation coast. They were just starting their journey in Venice while we were ending ours.
We agreed upon a couple of items right away. The unbearable heat and humidity in Venice meant that any lengthy day walking the streets was out of the question. Pick one or two adventures and then declare victory. Neal and I then agreed that “gondola” means “accident” – but while I managed to avoid one while climbing in and out of our ride that day, Neal managed to accidentally dip his foot into the canal in a mishap. Resting for dinner meant drying his foot as much as the humidity allowed.
After a few moments, Neal then asked if he could ask a question: what did we think was going to happen in the election?
Doreen explained I was something of a local pundit which meant I had to do some quick punditry. After explaining I’ve been mostly out of touch for nine days, I offered, yes, Kamala Harris had a chance. Without going into detail, I explained that the polls showed her ahead in key states.
They asked if we were Trump supporters, and playfully offered to throw us into the canal if we were. My wife explained my Never Trump position. As I discovered on our trip, they were like most Europeans and closely watching our election, more closely than even most Americans.
After all, the election is important to them as well. From the future of NATO, our support for Ukraine, Trump’s position on tariffs, to our position as leaders of the free world, Europe is understandably nervous about the election.
Neal and Liam were no exceptions. While Liam did vote for Brexit (and expressed regret), the two of them were concerned about Trump’s foreign policy, a concern we shared.
Still looking for a sign that could give them hope about the election, Neal asked, “Does Trump’s legal problems affect his support?”
“No, because his supporters think the prosecutions are political,” I explained.
“So it’s just like ‘fake news.'”
“Yes, very similar.” I then explained how Trump and the Republicans are also dismissive of any news they didn’t like because they can always point to some story that was initially misreported, “See how the media lies?”
They asked if we followed their politics as closely as they followed ours. I said I had in the past, but I confessed I was really too busy following our politics at the moment. As Neal commented, “And your elections are so long.”
“However, I understand you just had some riots,” I said, “Even some Labour Party members were arrested? ”
Yes, It’s the result of tensions over immigration they explained, a problem both countries share. As people arrive on their shores, they’re given immediate shelter, which is hard for someone who is struggling to understand. Meanwhile, rents are going way up and the easy credit that encouraged home buying is gone.
As a result, Neal and Liam feared that the far right is gaining traction in Britain as it is elsewhere in Europe – and maybe America.
“It was just hard for me to look at America, with over 300 million people, and wonder if Biden and Trump was the best America could do,” Neal said.
We agreed, and I pointed out that Trump is old, too. “But obviously very different than Biden,” Neal said.
As we discussed the difference in how age affected the two men, Neal commented that it was obvious at the debate that Biden was no longer capable of being president. Liam added that the politicians vouching for Biden were probably doing it because it was good for the relationship.
Then I turned the tables on them. I wanted to know, moderate? Hard left? “Do you watch Top Gear and The Grand Tour?” I asked. “Are you Jeremy Clarkson fans?”
“I love Clarkson.” Neal said. “I love his dry sense of humor.” Moderates, then.
As the conversation turned to music, (Birmingham is the home of the Electric Light Orchestra), and who at the two tables claimed to be a 90s music person, a couple from America left their table. As the woman passed to the exit, she offered her euro’s worth of an opinion having apparently overheard ours. “Go Trump!”
Liam and Neal then, while laughing, offered to put her in the canal, too. By this point in the evening, our pizza was eaten, the other couple had their dinners, and it was time to drag ourselves through the street to our hotel just a few doors down. Hugs and wishes for safe travel all around were made and we bid farewell to our Birmingham friends.
Their vacation adventure lay ahead for them, days to forget about the current world. But for us, we headed to a different adventure at home. Here, the journey looks more perilous than a possible dip in the canal from a tipsy gondola.
James Wigderson
Venice, Italy
