As I read the news this week concerning the flooding in Venice, it takes me back to the season of flooding when we lived there. This is a photo that was taken outside of our first apartment in Venice. Yes, that is a gentleman repairing his boat at my front door!

Although it is disheartening to know that this precious part of history is slowing sinking, it is much worse looking from the outside in. The Venetians are very organized with dealing with “acqua alta”. As the high water is dictated by the tide and moon phase, it is somewhat predictable what the water will do. There are computer screens throughout town that show the tide and what the predicted height of the water will be. Then on days when the water is to exceed a certain level, there is a siren, which the first time you hear it scares you to death for it sounds like you are in an air raid!, which is sounded to allow you time to get to higher ground and get your gates place on the outside of your doors. This is in theory to keep the flooding out, although, at best is just slows the water down upon entering!

The worst of it is the clean up, moving furniture and equipment down off of the blocks that they have been placed upon to prevent as much damage as possible. So, good luck friends and family in Venice, hope you fared well through this last history making tide! - Debbie