Flooding in the streets of Venice

Well, rain was predicted yesterday but we got it in buckets this morning. The day started with thunder, lightning and a heavy downpour. Nevertheless, we put on our totally inadequate jackets, purchased another umbrella and braved the deluge. By the time the bus got to Venice it was easing off a bit but the skies were dark and the rain continued in lighter bursts for the next hour or so. We took the water bus round to Piazza St Marco and even by that time there was some flooding starting to happen.

We decided not to join the queue to go to the Doges Palace but instead went in to the Basilica di S. Marco and up to the balcony overlooking the Piazza. By the time we got out it was wading only across the square and the water level was about mid-calf height in places.

Some of the kids enjoyed the impromtu pool that had developed and made the most of some spontaneous water games. Everyone else just took off their shoes and socks and waded on through. Once through the square the remaining streets were generally okay although I did have to take my shoes off a second time in one of the closer streets.

We then meandered our way through the streets in the general direction of the Santa Maria della Salute and came across some interesting places along the way. David found a Music Museum and while there ended up buying a ticket to a Concert tonight at the Chiesa San Vidal where a combination of Vivaldi, Bach and Albinoni compositions are being played on string instruments. (He has headed back into Venice tonight to do this so hoping he is able to navigate his way back!!!).

We then continued on toward the Academia Bridge but just before this David found another exhibit (photographs by Stanley Kubrick) that caught his interest so he did a wander through this while I enjoyed a quiet relax in the reception area. After we crossed the Bridge we entered a part of town that seemed to have some streets that were more "arty" and in one of the shops we went into they had this huge bear made out of spark plugs which I thought was quite cool. After a walk around the Santa Maria della Salute we slowly walked back to the bus terminal area and at one point stopped to look at the fish in the canal. This little bird just landed beside me in a companionable sort of way and didn't seem at all perturbed that I took its photo. On the opposite side of the street from this was a shop that said it had made the masks for the Stanley Kubrick's movie "Eyes Wide Shut" so thought that was interesting to have two connections to the same person in one day. The masks in the window were a bit unusual but not having seen the movie I am not sure whether these had any connection whatsoever to it.

As the weather improved, so did the foot traffic, and also the canal was quite busy by the time we left around 6 pm. Noticed the boat below which was obviously hotel porters Venetian style!

Tomorrow we leave Venice (and Italy) and head for "Sound of Music" country.