2082 Acqua alta in Venice

Got back from a w/e in Venice last night. It was quite an adventure - had been there a few times when there was minor 'Acqua Alta' but had never seen anything like this. We looked out of our 2nd floor window on Sat a.m. and my husband said - er the pavement appears to be moving - the ground floor was a foot deep in really filthy stinky canal water! Fortunately our lovely landlord had welly boots to hand for us so we were not marooned and could get out on tip toes and make our way around town. It really brought home to me how vulnerable venice still is and how amazingly the venetians cope with it - all in waders at the market - business as usual, stalls a foot deep in water.
Our Venetian mates tell us that though the authorities said it was a 132 cm tide it was probably higher but they keep the truth buried because of pressure from insurance cos... They are so well prepared - it seemed every shop had its own pump to get the water out and no loss of humour at all.
We stayed in a lovely flat in a quiet part of Dorsodoro, huge rooms, clean and bright and only 130 euros a night sleeping up to 4 - if anyone wants the address pm me.
Will try to attach a pic of the flooding..With a boat with an outboard engine in St marks Sq!

M

Category
General chat about Italy

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 12/05/2005 - 10:08

My husband and stepson at the market, the fish stalls - we actually saw fish trying to swim back into the lagoon from the fish market - finding nemo came to mind - and another of St marks..

It was heaven for a 9 year old -he thought it was hilarious..

M

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 12/05/2005 - 10:43

Hi Marina,

Sounds like a real adventure!! Thanks for the piccies. Good to see you didn't lose your sense of humour either hehe...

We went last February for 4 nights and on the day we left it was flooded. Our hotel was one minute away from St Mark's and we got wet feet as we had to walk a few steps in the water before we reached the planks. Glad I was wearing my leather boots rather than my red hiking boots... not too waterproof!! ;)

Glad to see you had a fab time regardless. We had three seasons in 5 days from snow on arrival through warm sunshine to rain & floods and Venice is a city that you can enjoy in every weather!

Cheers,
Stephanie

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 12/05/2005 - 11:46

Merry Christmas Marina!

Thanks so much for posting about your trip and photos. It's such treat to see Venice and hear about it even if it's not having a good day ;) Is the cutie
out in St. Marks Square your stepson? He seems to be having a good time! :)

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 12/05/2005 - 13:18

Hi Dee!

yes thats my stepson aged 9, he's a hon. Looked at the Golden Altar piece in St Marks and said cor what do you reckon it would cost to have one of those at home? Bless..
Venice was wonderful as ever - to me its like a lover that you first see and fall in love with the superficial beauty of it but as you get to know it better and understand more about the politics of the city and perhaps the murkier underbelly of the living museum/tourism issues that it becomes more rounded and interesting.
Wouldn't buy a ground floor apartment there though!

M

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 12/06/2005 - 05:50

LOL!!!! I love the idea of the fish swimming back!