The Birdman of Venice

Piazza San Marco is the main square of Venice. It is pretty large considering the rest of the city is a maze of narrow twisting streets and pathways. It is a good feeling after being lost in the maze to turn a corner and end up here, it makes it feel even that much larger.

The there are two things that make the Piazza an interesting place. First, it tends to flood sporadicly throughout the year. So much so that the city has installed what are essentially short tables that they place end to end to act as elevated walkways when the water intrudes the space. Needless to say, we were there on a dry day.

The other special thing are all the birds, pigeons to be exact. They are everywhere...thousands of them, and they are fearless. I found myself almost kicking them (accidentally of course) when I tried to walk across the Piazza. They just wouldn't move. There are also little old Italian ladies selling birdseed from rickety old carts (which is the reason the pigeons hang around). For a few Euros, you can buy some seed and watch the birds go crazy. It truly is like a scene out of some old Hitchcock movie.

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