As I was sitting on the train heading to Venice I was researching what I might do when I arrived.  This is how I stumbled upon a news article that literally left me in a panic.  I’m not kidding, I even had to call my mom.  What was in this news article that had me all worked up?  It was all about how, at the very specific time of year that I was currently heading to Venice (November), Venice was typically in a state of flooding.  It talked about roads filled with water, tourists not being able to get around or see anything and people being stuck in their hotels.

I. Was. In. Crisis.

What was I  going to do?  Could I even get to my hotel?  Would I be able to see anything that Venice was famous for????  Now that I’ve been, experienced, seen and know the answers, I am here to tell you not to worry.  Everything was fine.  In fact, I recommend going in the Fall when the flooding is happening.  It’s quite an interesting experience.

Venice, as you likely know, is a city famous for its water.  Water is to Venice as roads are to basically everywhere else.  What you may never have thought to consider is what body of water all this wet is coming from.  Venice is situated on the Adriatic Sea, which, as seas tend to, just so happens to have tides.  In the wintertime, when the tides are different than the summer and the winds are blowing from the south you get exceptionally high tides.  The Venetians call this acqua alta (high water.)  Do not let it scare you away from visiting Venice in the Fall and Winter months.  I repeat Do. Not.  It can be quite beautiful, and serene, and by midday when the tide goes down it’s all a moot point anyway.  Plus, it really only effects the lowest areas of Venice, most notably, St. Mark’s Square.

I get it, it looks scary. I promise it really isn’t. It’s like a freak lake suddenly appears in the middle of town, then goes away again… ok, I admit that makes it sound worse. It’s isn’t!

With all this water (that is only there for a couple of hours a day) how ever will I get around? I hear you asking this, I think, through the power of digital screen thought transfer or something.  Well luckily for you you actually have a few options.  Neither of which did I get a great picture of, but we’re going to make a solid effort here so bear with me.

Option one: Raised footpaths.  There are people who work for the city of Venice (I assume) who, during acqua alta, quickly build raised footpaths alone the most needed walkways and across the deepest water.  The people of Venice are used to this happening.  They know where the water comes in, where it will be the deepest and where people will need to walk for deliveries, shopping and touristy things during the high tide.  They use that knowledge to put up paths to help keep your poor, unfortunate, rubber bootless feet dry.

Here you can see two lovely people walking along one such raised footpath. Yes this is one of the best pictures I had, yes I regret not getting a better one.

Maybe you’ll like this picture better? Here you can see the raised walkway along the bottom of the image. Though you may notice there’s no water, there had been just an hour or so earlier.

Option two: If you are more adventurous or don’t like being confined to specific walkways then you can pay about 12-20 euros (depending on the guy you buy them from) and get yourself a fantastic pair of the most fashionable fake rubber boots you’ll every see.  These will allow you to cover your shoes with brightly coloured fake shoes and go skipping through the mini lakes of sea water.

I mean just check out those colours! These people went for blue and orange, but there are many colours to choose from. Are they not just DIVINE? Who can go wrong with plastic booties that clearly don’t clash with anything anyone would ever wear!

Option three: This one might be hard for some people to swallow.  It takes courage and guts and nerves of steel and… who am I kidding it’s not that bad.  Just wear whatever shoes you have and get wet.  They are just shoes and it is just water.  Go out and enjoy your trip.  However, if you have a full day of walking in mind, I do recommend changing into that spare set of shoes I know you couldn’t resist bringing with you “just in case” after the roads dry up.  This is it, this is your just in case, congratulations you and your spare shoes have been vindicated.

Water is what makes Venice so beautiful and so famous.  Water is natural and beautiful and amazing.  Go to Venice, don’t be afraid of the flooding or acqua alta.  It doesn’t last and you’ll get to enjoy Venice at a fantastic time of year, surrounded by what I expect to be fewer tourists than normal because it’s a little less warm and a little more wet.  Don’t be afraid like they were, and don’t miss out on this wonderful and unique city.

After all, a little water never hurt anyone. It sure didn’t ruin my trip!