Sunday's picture and a Song: Venice is flooded!
Some people take Murano glass or leather handbags home from Venice. Not me. I'll be stuffing a pair of green rubber boots into my carry-on suitcase. Thanks to an exceptionally high tide, the wind and the moon, the city is flooded. Feeling like little kids after the first snowfall of the season, Stephane and I wisely bought some boots from our hotel before going out to play yesterday. Other people were wading around in garbage bags tied over their shoes, hotel slippers and bare feet.
It seems that extreme weather is also wreaking havoc along the East coast of the United States because I keep receiving warnings from our neighborhood association in Annapolis about Hurricane Sandy. As it's bearing down on our house, they suggest that we pick up some sandbags and prepare for flooding. But what can we do, we're already under water in Venice!
When I asked our waiter and gondolier the name of their favorite Italian singer, they both said "Vasco Rossi". I don't think "Dillo Alla Luna" is his most famous song but since the moon controls the tides it seems like the perfect song for today...
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| Flooding requires drastic measures! |
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| Flooding at Piazza St. Marco. Venice. |
OMG - that looks less romantic than I imagined your weekend in Venice! Cheer up and try to look at it as an adventure.. (which you'll talk about in the years to come).
ReplyDeleteWhile Venice is flooded, Switzerland is drowning in its first heavy snowfall. It's going to be a looooong winter...
Snow?! Already? Well, let's hope that it means that it will be a good ski season because Stephane really wants to try out your local slopes this year. In preparation, he was building up his leg muscles by sloshing around in the water in Venice. It was an adventure!
DeleteWow.... I had read about the unfortunate flooding problems in National Geographic (as well as it's "flood" of tourists which residents both need and abhor). Your incredible photos should have been available to them! Happy the price of the gondola ride did not deter Stephane from splurging on you!!
ReplyDeleteSandy passed Florida with rain and wind and minimal power outages. Hoping that Annapolis is as fortunate, but at the moment looks threatening. Will pray for your property and friends, and hoping that those whom further north we know in New England are spared.
It was good to know that Sandy did minimal damage during her stay in Florida. After reading your comment yesterday, I told a group from NJ about it when I overheard them talking about their concerns for their homes. Thanks for your prayers and thoughts! Let's hope that our family and friends stay out of harm's way.
DeleteI noticed that Janet posted a link for the Nat. Geo article on fb so I'll read it later today. Thanks for telling me about it!
Oh, acqua alta! I have also seen in Venice, some years ago.
ReplyDeleteWe had yesterday the fist snow in Vienna. Come the cold days
I would like to fall into the winter sleep.
Whenever I think of Vienna, I always imagine it with a light sprinkling of snow like the first time that I saw it many years ago. It was really, really cold, which meant that the hot chocolate with whipped cream and Sachertorte tasted even better. I can understand why you feel like hibernating when it snows - that's what I feel like doing on this cold morning in Paris.
DeleteOur gondolier pointed out the house where Mozart used to live while he was in Venice. He certainly got around, didn't he?
Absolutely right. Snow in Vienna turns to rain - I do not know the number of pies - Sacher and ohters - I have to eat, to stand the November.
DeleteI hope, Your gondolier also showed the Palazzo Vendramin-Calergi to You where Richard Wagner died 1883.
Kindes Regards - S
Oh my word! Mother nature, you just can't beat her!
ReplyDeleteNope, you sure can't! Did you see the news about the Italian scientists who were sentenced last week to 6 years in prison for manslaughter because they failed to give adequate warning about the 2008 earthquake? That's mind boggling!
DeleteItalian scientists convicted over earthquake warning
That is an extreme response to a bit of water from the young fella. Still, if my bum looked like that... You're so good at catching these moments, MK!
ReplyDeleteExtreme response is right! Still, he was having the time of his life because he was with a big group of friends (school trip?) who were all laughing and teasing him. Oh, the stories that they'll have to tell of their weekend in Venice!
DeleteWell, there's a full moon on a Sunday. Must say, I'm jealous.
ReplyDeleteI see that the streets are flooded, are the shops flooded as well? Your hotel lobby?
As for the song, the jazzy saxophone did me in. And then the overly powerful stanza was its death nail. Such passion!
I'm going to have to listen to "Dillo Alla Luna" again. To get an internet signal at our hotel, everyone had to huddle around the router in the bar where the signal was the strongest so I only listened to it once with the volume turned down really low.
DeleteOur hotel lobby wasn't flooded but lots of the lower shops, hotels and restaurants were covered in water. Most of them are equipped with metal dams on their doors to help keep some of the water out. Now that I'm at home with a better internet connection, I'll post some more photos that give a better idea of what Venice is like under water.
Stop! What is that butt photo!?! LOL!!!!! Geez, looking at it reminds me that I need to get back into Pilates. Those buns are enviable!
ReplyDeleteGreat, great post, MK! I have always wondered about the famous Venice flooding! Now I know one thing; the floods bring out people's cheeky side. He he he.
Cheeky side, he he he. You are a wit, Mlle Ella! After our close encounter with the "buns of steel", Stephane and I decided to throw in the towel because no amount of Pilates or anything else is going to get us in that kind of shape. To console ourselves, we just kept ordering more pasta, wine and tiramisu!
DeleteMK~ Those photos are hilarious! The first year Sir L and I dated, we went to Venice for the week between Christmas and New Years and Venice was experiencing their Aqua Alta (or whatever it's called) at that time! I originally was really stressed about it, but with our Wellies by our side, we had the best NYE ever dancing in the floods with everyone else in St. Marco Sq at midnight! I hope the water has not ruined your vacation! enjoy xo
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing and unforgettable experience for the two of you to share! I'm not surprised you decided to get married. Your future children and grandchildren will never tire of hearing how you danced in Wellies in St. Marcos Sq on NYE. What a romantic tale!
DeleteThat butt photo (and the passerby's reaction) is hilarious! The water is high, yes, but not high enough to necessitate turning briefs into a thong! He does have a cute butt, though.
ReplyDeleteWalking on those crowded platforms look tortuous. You seem to be making the most out of your trip, though.
We're waiting for Sandy to hit here tomorrow. I hope no one gets hurt, and that I get to stay home from work.
I hope that you get to stay at home today! My daughter went to NYC on Sunday and left earlier than she had planned because she was worried that they'll stop the subway service. Be careful and stay inside!
DeletePeople were also wheeling suitcases and strollers on the elevated platforms. I was so thankful to have arrived the day before acqua alta!
Superb photos as usual, but I do prefer Venice in the sun!
ReplyDeleteSun? I never saw Venice in the sun...and only ate one gelato the entire time that we were there! Still, it was an incredible experience and one that I wouldn't have missed.
DeleteI echo everybody elses amusement at the bottom pic. Suddenly Venice doesn't look so romantic. ....... Hold the flights I was thinking of booking
ReplyDeleteFull marks for making the most of it.
Love Denise
Good ahead and book those flights, Denise. Venice is still romantic!
DeleteMary Kay, wonderful, wonderful photos! It looks like it was a memorable experience...made even more so with those cheeks!
ReplyDeleteI just bought a pair of new mens casual shoes for my boyfriend for our trip in Paris but just in case this happens, a pair of sturdy slippers is a must and a very thick boxer shorts if walking around the streets on your underwear is trending there. Hilarious!
ReplyDeleteIf only that flood would get any higher, let's say as deep as a river. Then, I will look and buy any boats for sales in perth.
ReplyDeleteGood thing I brought with me my golf shorts when this happened. I just finished playing gold when my sister called me up to say that it's flooding in Venice.
ReplyDeleteIs this normal in Venice? I have not been in that place before. If that flood rises up, people won't need just boots they will definitely need boats.
ReplyDeleteWoo! That looks well weird. I went there ages ago. Didn't hear about this flooding though.
ReplyDelete