Venice at high tide. What an experience. I can only imagine what it's like to deal with this every day. Rubber boots are certainly the fashion. This first picture is just outisde of our hotel about 45 minutes after high tide. The hotel is in a part of the city that doesn't flood as much as other areas. Can you believe that?
I invented a new word in Rome and now one in Venice. In Rome, when women wear narrow heels on the cobblestones, they become "hobblestones". In venice they put out these raised walkways during hightide and I've named them "tidewalks". Get it? Sidewalks used during high tide. I'm so clever, aren't I?
I love these next two photographs. Along Piazza S. Marco are many nice restaurants. Not letting high tide affect business, you can still sit outside and enjoy your morning caffe' and pastry. Simply put on your rubber (or as some tourists use: baggie) boots, pull up a chair at a nice table, and well dressed waiters wearing boots will serve you. Ingenious, no? It is a testament to the determination of the italian people to continue with living full lives in spite of the circumstances.
You have to remember that this is a daily experience. Life must go on. People have to get to work, children to school, shopping, eating, laundry, etc. You have to be careful where you walk so you don't walk off the flood sidewalk into the canal. I was grateful to have my rain boots with me while we were there, although my boots are only rubber to the ankles and, as you can see, much of the water is above ankle depth so, while meeting Michael at S. Marco, the water did flood into my boots. They and my socks dried much quicker in rain boots than in my leather walking shoes.
It is an experience not to be missed. Too fun.
