Day 107 - Rising tides

28 March 2022

Not a bad sleep considering how hot the room is. Breakfast and off to coffee. Shell has found a great spot on the water. We walk through the early morning fog. It is only 7˚C but it feels nice to be out.

We end up with tables right on the water. Shell orders gradually shrinking coffees. Cappuccino. Flat white. Cortado. Coffee is a drug. I am hooked. But it’s ok. It is one of societies ‘green light’ drugs. It is high tide. I saw the high water mark yesterday and realised that at some point the tide rises over doorways and streets. Not today.

“Let me wake up next to you, have coffee in the morning and wander through the city with your hand in mine, and I'll be happy for the rest of my fucked up little life.” ― Charlotte Eriksson

I am thinking about climate change and rising sea levels. This place would be in trouble. Centimeters matter here. Shell was telling me last night that Venice is sinking. Has been forever due to subsidence. Will continue to do so. Add rising sea levels and this place will be in the lagoon eventually.

From - https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna32718844

Venice has been threatened with the ‘Danger’ list for UNESCO Heritage listing. Once on the list, you are forced to take action or you lose your listing. Only three places have lost their listing for not taking appropriate action to preserve the site. Dresden, Liverpool, and Oryx Sanctuary in Oman. Italy is starting to make changes here. They have stopped giant cruise ships docking in the city. Venice cannot combat climate change on its own, it is a global initiative.

“Climate change may be far beyond the concerns of people in the midst of a life-and-death emergency, but it might eventually make the Mumbai slums uninhabitable, send enormous new waves of refugees across the Mediterranean, and lead to a worldwide crisis in healthcare.” ― Yuval Noah Harari

In 2021 Australia lobbied UNESCO to not have The Great Barrier Reef listed as "in danger". It was a close call. The status comes under review again this year. What has Australia done to protect the reef since then? Increased carbon emission. Approved coal mines. Maybe having it listed as "in danger" and the real threat of losing its UNESCO listing, which it has had since 1981, will be the catalyst for serious change. I doubt it. Australia loves coal like the junky loves crack.

“The whole point about corruption in politics is that it can't be done, or done properly, without a bipartisan consensus.” ― Christopher Hitchens

We walk the streets for the morning. It is a great place to wander. Having no destination is the best way. You find the most interesting things when you don’t have places to go.

Gnocchi with crab and fritto seafood for lunch. We have an Aperol Spritz. Again no spritz. It turns out you must be clear when you order. The Venetian way is with still wine, not Prosecco. I will know next time.

Some more walking. We decide to stay one more day in Venice. Return to the hotel and talk about the room temperature. The concierge explains that the law in Venice states the heat stays on until May. He gives us a mosquito coil, the electric version. It will have to do. We ask about another night. He doubles the price. We will stay in Venice, but not here.