It's been the wettest spring ever and it's been raining full on since Saturday. By now the river is 3m over the danger mark.
Bridges are closed, people were let out of work early to get home, sirens, helicopters, emergency vehicles, sand bagging and traffic jams... in one word, fun!
I went for a walk in the pouring rain hoping that the camera holds up to the claim of being waterproof, so far no smoke...
Starting from "my" bridge, sandbags were being laid out. In fact they are also using water bags - plastic "bags" filled with water... clever or stupid... I'll assume it's clever.
Sunday's Oxford/Cambridge regata and the boat show havw been cancelled too.
On the other side of the river a current diverter was being built by a digger in the water and people standing on the sand bags in the river. The emergency guys have all the fun.
So much for "late May" installation of the new walk bridge. We hope it doesn't topple over in the flood.
Then...
...and now.
The main South-North arterial.
Obviously closed, but no problem, the bridge ahead is closed anyway - weighted down with sand, hoping for the best.
Krakow's latest swimming pool is now open.
My town is wet, why should I keep dry...
The decision has been made to ring the ancient bell at the Castle to stop the flood. The royal bell is rung about 2-3 times a year only, for other times we have a plethora other, lesser bells. Funny place Krakow, the city is flooding, let's ring the bell!
It may sound funny, but apparently it's a law to let the citizens know that something is not right. OK, we do have radios and TVs, but why change the law? What if we run out of electricity, then what...
A "Don't Panic" stencil on the bridge over the raging torrent...
_._
Walking along the river I came across an amusement park set up by zee Germans. Amusement parks obviously are now a part of an educational programme and are supposed to "teach through fun". Here's the bit on Australia. Spot a mistake for a chance to win a ride for you and a loved one on the "Vomit Master 3000" (due to reopen just after the flood).
Got it? I'll give you a hint: always keep both hands on the wheel while driving!
Even the lights up top are spinach-and-eggs, or gold and green if you wish.
There's something for everyone there:
bound girls for Col
and funny, funny clowns for DJ ;-)
_._
Walking back through "my" bridge I noticed padlocks with names on them locked around the railings. I was told that many gay couples "wed" on bridges and throw the key into the river.
Here's Lukasz and Pawel.
Hope you guys last longer than an average church-approved marriage.
_._
Finally, I've started wondering if I may have anything to do with the excitement, which seems to have no end. A few weeks after the death of the president, with a volcano doing it's volcanic thing and Krakow being flooded a middle aged lady walked up to me today and said: "Shorts!? In this weather?! END OF THE WORLD!!!" and walked off shaking her head. Imagine her conversation at the dinner table tonight.
"Did you see the river?"
"Phew! the river... I saw a guy WEARING SHORTS!!!"
"Shorts!? In this weather?! END OF THE WORLD!!!"
"That's EXACTLY what I said dear... what's next...what's next" Hangs her head, shoulders slumped, camera moves back, wide shot of the table, fade to black.
The end.
6 comments:
I assume you mean the Sigismund Bell. It's a bit of a myth that it's only rung on momentous occasions (or '2-3 times a year' as you say). In fact it is rung at least 30 times a year. Yesterday, the birthday of JPII (May 18th) is one of them.
What sort of "amusement" park would it be if it didn't involve some bondage anyway? Loving the irony of a bank side bridge that gets flooded. Have any canoe hire places in Krakow? Could be fun.
ColF
Super piture story, well told. :D Thanks
Great pix - wondering if we could use them on the YouNxt blog. We'll be posting about the floods and are looking for good photos. Would you be able to send larger files?
@YouNxt. Posted a comment on your blog. You should have my email, so just drop me a line.
My aunt who lives by the Danube in very low and sandy areas said in her village, they used to ring the church bell loudly and desperately whenever thick black clouds appeared.
Apparently, the sound waves were so strong that it dispersed the clouds and the storm would not be as harsh or would last very little.
Same reason in Kraków?
Good pictures.
Cheers.
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