In my last post I mentioned the various physical effects of the Redentore festivizing, but I forgot to mention the nautical manifestations of Redentore Syndrome. A new one turned up on the Morning After (Sunday).
You should know that by now a large percentage — I’d guess around 97 per cent — of the boats which come to watch the fireworks are not carrying Venetians. By this I don’t mean to say that Venetians don’t come (though an informal survey reveals that they are fewer each year), nor do I mean that Venetians only come in boats with oars, because, there too, the number is dwindling. Certainly some Venetians come in their motor- or sailboats. But, at least in our neighborhood, people either watch from the fondamenta, as we do, or don’t go at all. (Giorgio was asleep upstairs by 9:30.) A wander around the zone revealed that the majority of the partyers are from elsewhere — foreigners on vacation, or people from the hinterland in every direction, from Chioggia to Treviso to Padova to points beyond. Many of them do not have a deep experience of boats, as I can confirm from seeing them around the lagoon.
In any case, here is the latest exhibit in that category. What I will never know is whether it was the boat’s owner, or some kindly soul full of good intentions where experience ought to be, who tied it up in this eccentric manner. It’s kind of adorable.
Many years back, here in Britain, going across Breydon Water, near Great Yarmouth we saw a boat (presumably a hire boat) that had been tied up there at High tide – and we sailed by at a far lower water state! It was almost sideways, hanging from its ropes front and back!! At least that meant that we always checked for water rise and fall whenever / wherever we moored up, during our boating years!
Thanks again for yet more fascinating information and images.
Sorry for the late reply, but I can’t resist thanking you for passing along this confirmation from your own experience. I’m so glad you didn’t learn the hard way (as the other boat-people obviously did…).
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Many years back, here in Britain, going across Breydon Water, near Great Yarmouth we saw a boat (presumably a hire boat) that had been tied up there at High tide – and we sailed by at a far lower water state! It was almost sideways, hanging from its ropes front and back!! At least that meant that we always checked for water rise and fall whenever / wherever we moored up, during our boating years!
Thanks again for yet more fascinating information and images.
Sorry for the late reply, but I can’t resist thanking you for passing along this confirmation from your own experience. I’m so glad you didn’t learn the hard way (as the other boat-people obviously did…).