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We endured the 8 hour bus drive with the Aguman Kapampangan group from Vienna to Venice to take part in its famous Carnival festivities. The trip is supposed to be a celebration of the birthdays of all Februarians in the group.
I have been to Venice before and said "So this is it! the city of romance, gondolas and O' sole mio!" The city is beautiful, no doubt - charming to the core - but the tales of tourist rip offs and unfriendly locals are also true. This, however, should not stop anyone from experiencing the city and taking pleasure in its sights, sounds and history. Also, the whole city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site...so there...:)
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| Take pleasure in the city's sights, sounds and history. |
During this time, the whole city was vibrant with color, teeming with interesting masked figures! An almost dreamlike, magical time where Venetians and tourists alike lose themselves in their flamboyant costumes and fanciful masks. I soooo loved the festivities!
According to Wikipedia, "the Carnival of Venice was started from a victory of the Repubblica della Serenissima, Venice's previous name against the Patriarch of Aquileia, Ulrico in the year 1162. In honor of this victory, the people started to
dance and make reunions in San Marco Square." Somehow, the carnival declined in the 18th century and was only revived in 1979. Since then, the festivities became a tourist magnet - with most taking part in the celebration with their own costumes and masks or with their face colorfully painted.
Let me share with you some of the grandest costumes I've photographed...
Let me share with you some of the grandest costumes I've photographed...
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| Flamboyant costumes all.. |
And naturally, the greatest reason why this visit was most memorable - it was spent with the person who truly loves me, mask or no mask! :)
