Venice Underwater

Have you guys ever been to Venice? It's probably one of my favorite cities IN THE WORLD. It's incredibly beautiful and romantic -made even more so by the fact that it is, quite literally, sinking; disappering slowly, day by day. While part of me hates to even dream of a world where Venice no longer exists - or does so only in a mythical way as a modern-day Atlantis under the water, part of me believes this ephemeral quality makes the city all the more precious. I love the twisted, single-lane corridors, the majestic, swaying town-homes, and the sweet-stink of the canal water.

All that said, this is the most disgusting thing I've seen in a while: 

Venice, hit by an overwhelming amount of rain, is even more underwater than usual. And some brave (STUPID) visitors have taken the opportunity to swim in an unlikely place: the Piazzo San Marco - also known as the dirtiest, grimiest, most pigeon-ridden place in Venice (and likely Europe). A bajillion dirty tourists compete with a bajillion filthy pigeons to make this one of the worst places imaginable to take swim. Enjoy histoplasmosis, friends.

* All photos via The Atlantic, here.

PS the only thing that makes pigeons bearable...

Fancy Flight

I hate pigeons. They are, by all accounts, the rats of the sky - dirty, pest ridden and intrinsically annoying to human life. Their presence mars some of the most beautiful places in the world -Notre Dame Cathedral, Times Square, and most famously, St. Peter's square in Venice.

In a somewhat questionable move (look out for PETA!) the people of Venice decided to do something about these flocks of vermin in honor of the city's Biennale. 

(Actual credit goes to two Belgian artists:  Julius von Bismarck and Julian Charriere)

Yes, they've spray-painted the pigeons royal, majestic colors. According to reports, the paint is non-harmful and the pigeons were painted in their own comfortable spray-tan like booths. Question: could they do their laundry at the same time??

Almost makes me like the dreaded beasts.

The turquoise ones kill me.... which is probably what they want to do anyways, little monsters.

All photos here.