I awoke this morning to find Venice covered in water. Being a city of islands and canals has a few drawbacks, one of which is occasional flooding (not just when it rains, but also when the tides rise). Still residents seem to have adjusted to the flooding and make-shift bridges quickly sprung up, shop owners went about mopping out water, and enterprising businesses sold rain boots.
By noon most of the water had drained away, and I was able to spend the afternoon visiting some more the more famous areas of Venice– Piazza San Marco and the Bridge of Sighs (which was a little less impressive than usual since it’s under construction). Piazza San Marco is home of the Basilica di San Marco, the Bell Tower, and the Torre dell’Orologio (Clock Tower). The Piazza is also one of the central areas of Venice. Tour groups, locals, and backpackers jam the narrow streets surrounding the Piazza. In the Piazza children run around chasing pigeons, while tourists sip espresso at outdoor cafes and walk around taking photos.
I have a few more hours left in Venice, and then 13 hours of trains to get to France– five trains, and a two hour, middle-of-the night layover in the Bologna station.
