Martedì Grasso a Venezia

After the fun parade in Viareggio, my friends and I still had to see Venice for Carnevale. We went on the last day of the celebration - Mardi Gras, or in Italian, Martedì Grasso. It was really cool to see Venice for the big day and just to see Venice in general. It was the first time I'd been there, and it really is an amazing city. No streets or cars, just canals and boats. I went for the third time yesterday to show my brother around, and my mom asked me if I'd gotten bored of it yet, but it's still gorgeous as ever.

One thing I really love about Venice is just exiting the train station and finding yourself at the Grand Canal. Boom! It's Venice! Water taxi!
There are many many mask shops in Venice, since it's so famous for Carnevale, but I really like the ones where you can see the masks made.
The typical Venetian mask is made of papier-mâché as seen below in Figure 7-4.
Also in Venice: a lotttt of glass.
This picture for me really captures Italy. There's the gondola. The gondolier in traditional garb. There is a woman wearing a fur coat. (It seems to be part of the winter dress code of older Italian women). The passengers are also dressed up for Carnevale with the hats and masks! Perfetto!

Saint Mark's square was all dazzled up for the event!

Awesome mask, that is really four masks in one. I only caught three of the faces in this picture though.

Very elegant costumes.

Less elegant costume.

St. Mark's Basilica.
Yet another mask shop.
Moody picture.
Venice by night!

Carnevale a Viareggio

So it has been requested by certain family members (not naming names like Uncle Steve or anything) that I need to tone down the language a bit. Sorrrrry. The last post was for educational purposes only, but here you go. A family friendly parade!

Carnevale (the period before Lent) is a big deal in Italy. On the last Sunday of the celebration, I went to Viareggio to see the big parade. Viareggio is second to Venice for Carnevale fame, but it's a lot more fun. Instead of elegant ball gowns and masks, there are tacky costumes and parade floats that mock politicians and dead celebrities. What's not to love?

Controversial float with Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi shown commanding from a TV. (He owns a lot of the media in Italy - major publishing company, newspaper, TV stations). I later read that this one almost didn't make it to the parade.

In honor of Chinese New Year. This one was one of my favorites. Not shown in this photo: people on float dressed up in stereotypical Chinese garb who are definitely not Chinese.

Oh no, they di-int. At first my friends and I were appalled that someone would dare make a float so soon after his death. Then we decided to take pictures of ourselves doing our best MJ imitations in front of it. (Sadly I do not have these pictures). RIP.
This float was a bit RACY. Get it? Get it? Because it's about race. Hah. This float also teaches an important biological lesson. When two swans of different colors mate, they produce babies of different ethnicities that sprout out of flowers. Little known fact.

People dressed in very unfortunate costumes. The sign reads "...Un solo padre: il VINO" One father: WINE. In the fight against racism, clearly there is only one weapon: alcoholism.

Look! Gandalf has come to save us! Or maybe da Vinci. I think we'd all prefer to think it's Gandalf.




It's a bird! It's a plane! It's OBAMA!
Quick! Obama, save the Statue of Liberty from the dragons before it's too late!

Aw wittle Berlusconi is the butt of all the jokes.

Obama once again! I'm not sure who was more popular in this parade - Obama or Berlusconi.
Freakin' bankers who can't pull up their pants.

Che bella giornata! Then came the long voyage home. 6 hours in transit for about a 3 hour train ride. Fun fun fun. Missed trains. Trains that decided to switch platforms two minutes before departure. Sprinting through the train station. Tackling every innocent bystander while yelling SCUSI SCUSI! Trains that don't tell you that you're getting off at the wrong station. Singing Journey songs on an empty platform at the wrong station at midnight. Ohhh Italia. Pazienza.

Such a tease...

Lately, I've been on many adventures (art festival, Florence, soccer game, Carnevale in Viareggio and Venice) , and I'd love to post more, but once again, no internet. I realize that this has become the recurring theme of my blog, and I apologize, but seriously, no internet? What is this - the early 90's? Fortunately, internet is on its way. On its slow Italian way. My roommate signed the contract last week which means it will be installed within "a maximum of four weeks, but maybe even as soon as two!" Until then I will just leave you with this teaser of Carnevale. ENJOY!

Viareggio

Venice