The Beginning of Carnivale

Well, first off, I have settled into the cozy flat I have rented while I am here quite nicely.  While it is fairly small, it does have two bedrooms with lovely ensuite bathrooms in each one.  There is also a little courtyard to use but I don't think we will do that given the weather is fairly cool.  What is lovely is that the big window at the end of the dining room is directly on a canal and all during the day and early evening gondolas filled with people are going by and most of them have no idea that they are being watched.  The bonus is when a gondola goes by with a singer on it, it makes for some nice entertainment, albeit brief.

Also, the flat is in a little courtyard at the end of a long, narrow alley so there is basically no one around unless they live in one of the buildings.  I think I have seen only one person in the little square.  It is called "The Chimney Sweep Well" and there is an old well in the centre of the square.  It doesn't look like much but looks are deceiving.  thankfully at night, even though Piazza San Marco is only about a 4 minute walk away, it is quiet and peaceful here.

Carnivale officially started (today) Saturday with the Festa della Maria.  This is traditional and the following is from a Carnivale website:

This parade of the Marias refers to the Purification of Mary, which was the day when all marriages were blessed. At the same time, the Venetian Doge offered magnificent jewels as a bridal dowry to 12 poor Venetian girls. However, in 973, pirates kidnapped the 12 Marie and their jewellery during the ceremony. The parade is a commemoration to thank the Virgin Mary for her help in rescuing these girls.  The parade starts at 2.45 PM from San Pietro in Castello and follows Via Garibaldi and Riva degli Schiavoni to reach San Marco at 4.00 PM. When the parade enters the stage, the different ‘actors’ (such as the Doge but also visiting carnival groups from neighbouring cities) are announced.

Personally, even this morning before all the festivities started, I found Piazza San Marco to be very crowded.  Thankfully, the sun was out - no fog today - and some of the costumes were amazing but getting near them to get photos was a challenge.  For some reason, many people want to have themselves in the photos so getting the costumed person without strangers hanging onto them was a rarity.  I started my day by treating myself to tea and a croissant at the famous Gran Caffe Quadri.  I won't tell you what I paid for that but, suffice it to say, it was not cheap!  However, it was an experience of a lifetime sitting at the window in this lovely room watching the final preparations for the event.  

After parting with a significant number of Euros for what I received, I headed out into the square.  The stage theme, it seems, is Steam Punk.

I then proceeded to take as many photos of the people in costume as I could.  I know I will get more, and probably better ones, in the days to come but it was a good start.  Also, Faye and Barry were there in their butterfly-themed costumes so I was also able to get a few shots of them in person.  Basically, it was just lovely to be out in the sunshine enjoying this very photogenic city!

This evening, I am heading back to the airport to meet my sister who is arriving from Tel Aviv following her tour of the Holy Land.  Tomorrow her plan is to attend mass at the St. Mark's Basilica while Faye, Barry and I are doing a "theatrical walking tour" - whatever that means!  I guess I will find out,