Saturday, October 31, 2009

PhotoHunt: Bags

During my visit to beautiful Venice in 2007, I had the unique adventure of experiencing Acqua Alta (Wikipedia). AnnieNC, Churches in Venice, took some incredible photos of her experience with Acqua Alta during her trip in 2008 that you have to check out.

Some people like the local Venetian pulling the wheel barrel were prepared with their rubber boots. And then there were some like the family in the back who weren't and had to use these long plastic bags to put their feet and legs in to keep dry . . .


And just in case there was another Acqua Alta during my stay I bought my own bright yellow plastic "Skipper" boots that came in these cute plastic bags . . .


And you know I just had to try them on! :)




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18 comments:

  1. Kathy, I've not been to Venice during high water. Loved your photos.

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  2. Hi Deborah, glad you liked my photos. I actually think that experiencing high water in Venice was very unique and fun in a wow I can't believe what I'm seeing kind of way. I practically ran over to San Marco to see it for myself and it was a pretty amazing sight to see and something I'm actually glad that I got to experience and see for myself. Venice is so intriguing and unique in so many ways which is probably why I love it there so much.

    Thanks again for your comments and have a great weekend!

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  3. Hi Kathy, I love looking at Venice this morning - even flooded, it's so beautiful. And I love your yellow Skipper boots! It was really interesting to see the many ways that tourists tried to keep their feet dry last winter (the Venetians are prepared!).

    Even though I worry about what Acqua Alta is doing to the city, it was such an interesting experience to be there for it.

    Great post and Happy Halloween!

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  4. Great post. Of course, you had to try the boots on. :)

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  5. Hi Annie, glad you liked looking at Venice this morning even though it is under all that water. It was very interesting to watch how everyone coped with the water and I saw some very creative ways in which they tried to stay dry.

    My experience was interesting and kind of fun to see in person for the first time. But to be honest if I had to deal with it like the locals and poor shop owners had to deal with it, I think it would be a pain. This photo is one of my favorites. I took it because I was amazed watching this guy not only pull this wheel barrel clear across the piazza but do it in knee high water. Really hard work. And then at the same time around him were visitors wading around and taking photos of themselves. Understandably so as it is a unique experience. Such an interesting contrast to see though.

    I remember having this lengthy discussion with one lady who had a shop and she said it was very hard to deal with the high water problems. She showed me where they built this gutter thing in front of her shop but she told me that it still didn't keep all the water out and she spent all morning sweeping the water out. She was venting with me which I didn't mind. I think one of the greatest things I like about slow traveling is how it allows us the opportunity to see things from a different perspective from say someone who was just day tripping there would get. Getting to experience high water was definitely interesting. And talking to the shop owners and seeing the aftermath was also interesting and a great learning experience.

    I have to say that Venice is not only the most beautiful City but it has to be the most unique and interesting place in the world. Gosh, posting my PH this week brought back so many memories of my 2007 trip.

    Thanks so much for your comments Annie. Glad you liked my Skipper boots too. :) Have a great weekend!

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  6. Hi Eden, . . . yes I just had to. :)

    Glad you liked the post! Have a great weekend.

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  7. Kathy,

    I love your take on theme! Very creative indeed!
    I would have tried them on too:)

    We are getting ready to go to the beach for a couple of hours, and then we'll be heading to the River Landing here in Jacksonville, hopefully celebrating the Florida Gators victory over Georgia's Bulldogs. Not that I am a fan of either really, it would just make it a nice atmosphere with happy locals.

    Happy Halloween!

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  8. This is a fun post. I like how you tied it to Venice. I also love all the details in the commends on your visit and the effects of high water in Venice.

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  9. Kathy, I love those Skipper boots! I have been in Venice during the acqua alta, without boots. And I can't buy regular boots in Italy because my feet are so long (size 11, sigh.) These would have been wonderful.

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  10. Love the skipper boots. I've been to Venice three times but never experienced high water - but I would have purchased these boots too if I had encountered it...great posts, K!

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  11. Cool photos, Kathy. I had fun reading the label on the "skipper" boots. LOL at the frog with the top hat.

    Happy weekend and Happy Halloween!

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  12. Love your take on the theme this week. It must be cool to see the aqua alta. I would not want to have to deal with it though if I lived there. Love the boots!

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  13. Hi everyone, thanks so much for your comments...

    Candi, glad you liked the take on the theme. Also glad to know that you would've tried them on too.:) Hope you had fun at the Gators game! I'm still trying to get used to you not being in Hawaii now, but I think it's cool because we get to read about some Jacksonville Florida happenings now. I've never been to Florida so it'll be fun to read about through your posts.

    Marta, glad you liked the post. Experiencing High Water in Venice is definitely a unique experience. Truthfully, when I first saw it in the morning I actually got freaked out but once I calmed down I decided to go exploring to see it and I got an eye full. One of the most unique experiences in all of my travels.

    Sandra, no worries. These skipper boots were great and I think you would like them. Just be happy that they don't come in "Burgundy!" He, he! :)

    Menehune, Glad you liked my skipper boots. When you get back to Venice and if you find yourself in High Water there, these would be a great investment.

    Maria, glad you enjoyed reading the label and that you liked my "skipper" boots. I love that frog with his top hat too! :) I feel so sad that I had to leave it behind at the airport. I really wanted to bring it home as a souvenir or maybe for the next trip but too many souvenirs and not enough room so I had to leave Skipper behind. :(

    Hi Girasoli, glad you liked my take. It was definitely interesting experiencing high waters, but I agree I don't know if I would want to deal with it as the locals have do. I did get a little freaked out at first only because it was amazing how much the water rose. As far as a once in a life time experience. It was very unique and fun for the first time. But as Annie said, I also worry and wonder how much damage it does to Venice. Venice is such a survivor.

    Thanks again everyone and hope you all had a great Halloween weekend!

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  14. Hi Kathy, when we were in Venice for Thanksgiving back in 2005 we got snow and high water. I don't remember seeing those "Skipper" boots or I'm sure I'd own a pair.
    Thanks also for sharing your discussion with the shop keeper and bringing up the fact that it is really hard on the locals.
    Hope you had a good weekend!

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  15. Kathy, your conversation with the lady in the shop is so interesting. I do feel bad for people, esp. those in the lower lying areas which get flooded more often. One of the guys at my B&B was showing me things they do, like never putting an electric outlet too close to the ground. I'd never noticed but all their outlets were in the middle of the wall, not close to the floor like we do here.

    Hope you had a good weekend!

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  16. Hi Maya, I was there in November too but in 2007 and I also had a day of high water and snow in the Dolomites. I bought the Skipper boots from a vendor selling them near San Marco. I want to say they were about 10 euros and it was good to have them just in case. The shop keeper was very expressive and it was really interesting listening to her. Glad you found it interesting.

    Hi Annie, that's so interesting about the electric outlets being up and away from the ground. If the high waters got into the electic outlets that would not be good, so having them off the ground is one less thing for them to have to worry about.

    Thanks so much for your comments Maya and Annie. Hope you had a wonderful weekend. And have a great day today!

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  17. Kathy -- that's right! Burgundy is the colour of hot-water bottles, yes? I suppose they should have been "RED"!

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It's me Trekcapri (aka Kathy). Thanks so much for visiting and leaving a comment.