Carnevale!!!

So as you may know.....it's time for Mardi Gras!!! In Italy, and I think pretty much everywhere else in Europe they call it Carnevale (which means without meat). Venice has a two week celebration for Carnevale that consists of wearing beautiful or exotic masks, and dancing at concerts in St. Mark's square. I think it would be correct to say it is like a mix of Halloween and Fourth of July, because it's a time that everyone can dress up and look silly and because of the celebration of a countries traditions. Also because of the fireworks lol. We most of the people on my group, myself included, went to Carnevale the first weekend it started. This also happened to be Valentine's Day. I don't think it get more cliche than to be in Venice, the most romantic city in Italy, on Valentine's Day. To make it even worse, I took a gondola ride! It wasn't a romantic one though....it was with 3 of my girlfriends and it was more of a wonderful insider's tour of the city. It was not very expensive since there were 4 of us to split the cost, and our gondolier was great! He told us he had been doing this for 35 years and that his family had been gondoliers for 3 generations before him. He gave us a great little history lesson as we went through the city, and I can honestly say I have yet to enjoy something more! If you make it to Venice, take a gondola ride.....just make sure you find one that speaks a little English and is away from the main touristy areas. Usually he won't try to scam you then and you will get a free history lesson :)

I loved Venice even though it was so crowded for Carnevale. It kind of reminded me of a labyrinth. As soon as you get out of the train station you are practically on the water. We decided to walk instead of take the water taxi, and I'm glad we did! As you cross the bridge and head into the city, you wind through beautiful apartments and pass through one small piazza after another. There are signs with arrows directing you to St. Mark's Square the whole way. It seems like you are never going to make it there, and then it opens up into a huge square with St. Mark's Basilica and the Doge's Palace. Even though it was really crowded for the celebration, we managed to walk through St. Mark's Basilica. It was the most incredibly artwork I've seen inside a church thus far. I've heard the Doge's Palace is incredible too, but we didn't make it inside this trip. Since Venice is only an hour and a half train ride away, I will be visiting there again