Sights of Venezia

PIAZZA SAN MARCO

View from the ground. The water is just to the left of the tower.

View from the Basilica's balcony. The water is off to the left.

BASILICA SAN MARCO

The church, when lit

The four horses of St. Mark

ICONS
In many works of historical fiction, relics from the saints are said to be placed in churches. I am not sure I knew exactly what was meant until we saw the following, placed on exhibition at the Basillica. It was fantasic, and creepy.

Real Skull. Real Femur.

Real hand.

The detail in the relics is amazing.

Gold multi-domed incense burner.

ACCADEMIA
A few pictures from the gallery.

Carpaccio's "Presentazione di Gesti at Tiempo" (Presentation of Jesus at the temple)

Robusti detto Tintoretto. "La Creazione delgi animale" (Creation of all animals). Notice the unicorn in the upper right corner.

The paintings are large, and galleries.

Vecchio's "Burrasca di mare." This is one of Adam's favorite paintings. It shows a storm in Venice, one that was so violent that it was to destroy the city. Except for the presence of the saints (in the boat farthest to the right) who saved the city. The city is full of romantic explanations for events. This is one brought to life via painting.

The ceiling in one room of the Accademia.

HOTEL DANIELI
For those "Only You" fans, being able to see the hotel in person was amazing.

Campari Spritz and a glass of Prosecco. Cannot get more Venetian than that.

The lobby.

Scenes of Venezia

Venice is gorgeous.

It was so cold that the Gondolas were all buttoned up.

The Rialto Bridge. We stayed in an apartment a few minutes walk from here.

The seagulls were still enjoying Venice, even in the snow.

The sun came out on Sunday!

Carnevale in Venezia

We felt fortunate to find ourselves in Venice during the celebration of Carnevale in Venice this year.

CARNEVALE IN HISTORY
Carnivale was the celebration during which participants had license to really celebrate everything that would be given up before the start of Lent. The name of Carnevale is attributed to the idea of the "Death of Meat" as meat is off limits during Lent. Historically, participants would wear masks, blurring the lines between the aristocrats and the plebeians, celebrating equality.

CARNEALE 2012
Just as it was in the past, Carnevale is a party! It includes masks, costumes (period and otherwise), wine fountains, Frittelle, costume contests and performances. Take a look!

The stage set up in the Piazza San Marco. The viewing areas to the right and left of the stage were selling for 800 Euros/day.

Dance performance

Period dance to Bach's Minuet in C

Wine Fountain!

MASKS!

Masks were sold (and worn) all over town

Senor Walker

Hats had to stay on-- it was freezing!

COSTUMES!

GOODIES

The tray in the top center has a traditional Carnevale food: Fritelle. They are Venetian donuts that can contain fruit or cream. Although it was too cold to sample gelato, we were not shy about trying as much Fritelle as we could stand. It was Carnevale, afterall.

Everybody's favorite: Vueve Cliquot, all dressed for the occassion.

Snow?!

This winter has been one to dream about. It has been (on average) between 40 and 50 degrees Fahrenheit, and has looked like this:

Our backyard (or garden as the Brits say) on January 29, 2012.

But this week, we had a visit from Mr. Winter who brought a lot of the white stuff we thought we would escape.

Our backyard the morning of February 5, 2012.

Here are a few more pics taken in the Abbey Gardens in Bury St. Edmunds. I spent the day in Bury with a friend and her great kids as we waited for our husbands to drive to Stansted Airport, attempt to board a plane to Italy, and return from Stansted Airport due to a cancelled plane. Interestingly enough, the flight was not cancelled due to snow on the runway, but due to a lack of personnel working in the airport. Snow is not a common occurrence here in Britain. Oh, how you make life challenging, beautiful snow.

Abbey Gardens

Because of the lack of snow, everyone was out sledding and making snowmen. There was a particularly adorable little guy, probably about 2 years old, who kept asking my little 5 year old friend (who has never lived in a place with snow before) to make a snowman. She was so cute, and replied: "I'm so sorry. I don't know how to make a snowman. Maybe your Daddy can help you later."

Abbey Gardens