Marco Polo: Ventures In Venice - The Celebration of Carnivale

To say Venice knocked me off my feet would be a severe understatement to how much I enjoyed my time in a city upon water. I spent the weekend exploring the old city that may one day be completely overwhelmed by the water surrounding it. I took off for the weekend with my new roommate from Laguna Beach, California. We went to Venice with only the hotel we picked out in our itinerary, and the knowledge that Venice's most famous holiday, Carnivale, was kicking off that weekend.
Lucky for us, the Hotel Firenze was placed in the middle of the city's biggest cultural center, Piazza San Marco. Once on the water ferry that took us from the bus station to San Marco, I began to realize from the morning sun what an incredible city Venice was. The canals gave the city an unreal appearance, along with the pristine pastel-colored buildings lining them. After we regrouped at the hotel, we went about discovering the city, touring the Doge's Palace and sampling Venetian white wine while watching the unique water taxi's. Around nighttime, the masquerades of Carnivale began. However, we sat down on a bridge to enjoy a Black Ink Squid pasta dish from Alfredo's, a cheap restaurant with prices from around 7 Euros for a fantastic Venetian seafood meal. Carnivale consisted of hundreds of young and old people; some of the costumes were highly elaborate, while others (like us) just entailed a simple mask. Anonymity was in the air as people danced and talked in all the main centers of the city, my favorite of these being the Per Rialto Bridge. Small lights adorned the largest bridge in Venice, it almost reminded me of a small Ponte Vecchio as people drank and sung traditional Italian songs. The only incident that put a damper on the night was my roommate, who decided to take an accidental swim in the canal beneath the bridge; the seaweed lining the steps of the river was slippery enough to make anyone fall in! I ended my night upon the rooftop terrace of my hotel, with a night-view of the city that I think few have ever seen. Venice had become my new number one travel destination without a doubt!
The next day's adventure extended to a small set of islands near Venice, which we had heard were picturesque little towns that attracted tourists for their quaint settings. After hopping on a cheap water ferry, we landed in Burano, known for its renowned blown glass objects. I bought a few pendants for my family and watched local Venetians pour off the boat, filling the suburbs with the Carnivale-party atmosphere that had began the night before. The city was surely not under-advertised, the different colored shops and businesses was truly a unique sight for any tourist; a total "mother approved" spot.
Once back in Venice, we hopped around local bars, meeting Italians from all over the country with different traditions of celebrating the national Carnviale movement that sprung out of Venice's popularity. Some of our new friends even gave us a tour to the abandoned house where the James Bond "Casino Royale" final scene was shot!
At the culmination of my trip, taking the water ferry back throughout the city to the train station, I came to the realization how different Venice was from Florence and Tuscany. The wine was different, along with the pizza, pasta, people, and environment. I had found that I was actually learning something unteachable in any lecture, the "feeling" of experiencing the different vibes to a new city or region. It was this piece of personal knowledge I cherished most upon reflection of my time in such a fantastic city.

Pictures Galore!

Water Taxi/ Gondola