Venice flooding: Tourists swim as Italian city drowns

Venice under water while tourists enjoy.

On Nov. 12, reports about Venice came flooding in that the Italian city is now 70 percent underwater. While this may seem like a deterrent to tourism, many enjoy the water action and have taken to swimming in the sauce made by the rain that has gone on for three days.

Yes, despite the inconvenience and distraction in Venice, Reuters was quick to point out that in St. Marks Square, "Tourists in swimming [suits] sat at café tables under the water,"

This particular drowning is one for the history books, being called "the sixth-worst flood in the city since 1872."

Although the news of all the most recent flooding in Italy may be trending worldwide for its destruction and cause of death, it is hardly an unusual phenomenon during the winter months in this island paradise.

In fact, Los Angeles resident Paul Jackson remembers when he visited Venice via a Crystal Cruises cruise ship back in 1998, enjoying the same situation but to a lesser degree than what is happening today.

"The city was amazing," says Jackson. "St. Marks had about a foot of water to trudge through but we had a blast in out knee high rubber boots supplied to us by the ship's personnel. We shopped in boutiques where we were warmly welcomed even though the water was up to our calves. Still, we made the most of it, asking for and getting bargains left and right while shopkeepers put on very happy faces."

And so, with that said by this Angeleno, there is more than one upside to the situation in Venice with its flooding and its tourists swimming in the residue. Travel sure can take a turn for the unexpected but that's what sojourning is all about, right? Right.

Los Angeles residents who want to visit Venice when it floods or when it doesn't should contact their travel agents for details.