Travel is. . .

. . . A great visual

I saw "The Tourist" yesterday. I am not a film critic, but it is definitely a so-so film: so good and sooooo bad.

Angelina Jolie, while astonishingly beautiful, does little more than vogue and strut. Johnny Depp is as cute as he was on "21 Jump Street," but the true star of the movie is the magnificent setting that is Venice.

I have had the good fortune to have visited Venice several times. The first time we stayed at the magnificent Danieli Hotel, where the two stars land upon their arrival by launch from the train station. We came into Venice the same way, but were content with our small room and bath, not the sprawling suite depicted in the movie.

I loved the drama of the Grand Canal, the beautiful Piazza San Marco - pigeons and all, the elegant Doge's Palace and the wonderful history of this glorious city.

And who, with even a tiny dollop of romance in their soul. wouldn't love to ride a gondola while a sexy gondolier sings songs of love?

All this and more star in the movie. I don't feel cheated because the story is paper thin and the surprise ending no surprise at all,. The scenery, backgrounds and memories of Venice provided a bigger bonus than my free bag of popcorn.

And while the film doesn't feature the pricey ($16 for a cup of coffee five years ago) Cafe Florian or the mass transit vaporettoes, a Bellini cocktail at Harry's American Bar, or strolling around the Rialto bridge, the memories are all there.

So while I didn't love the film, and I do love Venice, it wasn't a bad way to spend and hour-and-a-half.

And a great visual.