Maggie in Venice

During Venice's acqua alta or high-water season, which begins in October and runs through the winter, the Comune di Venezia sets out temporary wooden walkways on major pedestrian routes  in low-lying areas of the city. These passerelle make it possible to get through flooded areas without wearing boots, and they're a godsend to tourists who visit the Basilica di San Marco or need to reach a vaporetto platform during a flood tide.

We almost took Maggie for a walk on the passerelle one night when we were in San Marco and the water was rising, but we hesitated because we were afraid she might balk on the walkway (causing a pedestrian traffic jam) or--worse yet--fall off (requiring one of us to jump into knee-deep water and rescue a soaked dog). 

This morning, with no flood tide in sight, Cheryl decided to try a dry run with Maggie on the Calle del Traghetto Garzoni, which is slightly to the east of the Grand Canal's S. Angelo vaporetto stop. Was the experiment a success? Judge for yourself:

1. After being lifted onto the narrow passerelle, Maggie inspects her temporary surroundings. Is it better to be high and dry, or low and wet?

2. Maggie, who hates water, shakes off the thought of being soaked by an acqua alta. 

3. Feeling dry again, Maggie decides that being on an elevated walkway beats swimming with the fishes.