Just for the record, I extensively edited my last post. The constant bashing of taxi drivers is generally the result of people not understanding the situation. The taxi companies predicted in advance that "We are not London," and we don't have a subway, and we can't have 3 major events without gridlock happening."

Blame mass tourism or any other factor, but don't blame the taxi drivers who wanted to get to work and pick up the hundred extra taxis the city provided, who couldn't get to their jobs because the highways were gridlocked, and who you said were waiting empty, for higher priced, off the meter fares. That didn't happen.

I'm heading to Rome on Saturday. I can avoid the gridlock. But if it is really bad, I'm heading to Abruzzo or Le Marche. Flying out of Venice back to the USA July 28. I never go in the summer, but if you go in June, July, or August, don't blame the taxi cab drivers for what happens.