I didn’t think much of Venice’s flooding until I arrived in St. Mark’s today and we experienced it. The rain and high tides had flooded the square, the basilica and the Grand Canal. Thankfully, it wasn't one of their more severe floods that can affect up to 95% of the city.
It was wild to see a foot or more of water in the lobby of the basilica. Or to pass the buildings in the Grand Canal and see some buildings with a few feet of water on their main levels. I’m amazed these ancient buildings can withstand the constant abuse from the sea. Especially when I found out that the city is flooded an average of 250 days a year.
Throughout the square, water levels were anywhere from one inch to over a foot deep. Since the city floods often, they have platforms scattered in stacks in all the main thoroughfares even when its dry. These stacked platforms tend to be resting places for weary tourists, or you see people on top of them trying to get better pictures.
When the water raises, they flip them over and lay them out, making walkways over the water. The footed platforms make elevated runways. It’s a constant stream of colored umbrellas going in two directions on the platforms, like a busy highway, and it gets more interesting when they are trying to pull luggage on the platform.
So Barb and I bought some Wellies (rain boots), and continued on exploring, so we wouldn’t be limited by jammed walkways. I’ve always thought of owning Wellies, but could never quite commit, but they made today so fun, that I think they will be one of my favorite souvenirs.
To help with the flooding, Venice has finally started on the construction of flood gates and they should be functional in the next couple of years and will hopefully control the flooding or at least minimize it. The flooding seems such a fact of life here, it didn’t seem to dampen the mood of one person, local or tourist.
Excited to get back to St. Marks Basilica, we toured the Galleria, which included a museum on the second floor, stunning close-up views of the basilica’s mosaics, and a balcony with splendid vistas of the square. The inside museum also featured the original gilded bronze horses that were on top of the Basilica that have been restored. That evening we attended Mass in the incense filled St. Marks, a traditional catholic service, it was easy to follow even though it was in Italian.
After the services, we explored more of the city’s narrow streets, until we found a fantastic little bar called Caffetteria Doria – Wine and Spirits shop. Like most little coffee and wine bars, you stood up at the bar while enjoying your drinks. We had stopped to pick up a bottle of Bellini to drink for the night, and ended up visiting with the owner of the bar, and another couple (Lisa & Jeffery) who were from Plano, TX but have been living in Cairo for the last year. It was a great time, and I wish we had more place like this where I lived.
While exploring and shopping along the Rialto Bridge, we ended up having lunch at a nearby pizzeria. I love the espresso's I can get in Italy, but we discovered Venice’s amazing hot chocolate. It was almost a cross between chocolate pudding and hot chocolate, and incredibly decadent every sip. Wish I could have figured out how they made it.
Whether Venice is wet or dry, it’s still an amazing city. The rain brings out the color of the marble, making them more vivid despite the overcast day. If you good rain boots, and an umbrella, you are going to have a great day.
My photo albums: http://deedaisy.typepad.com/daisyblog/2009/04/finally-my-trip-pictures-from-venice.html
We are all in the position of the farmer. If we plant a good seed, we reap a good harvest. If our seed is poor and full of weeds, we reap a useless crop. If we plant nothing at all, we harvest nothing at all.
Posted by: coach handbags | Monday, June 28, 2010 at 20:59