Carnavale in Venice

Although we have been to Venice before, we decided to make one last trek there for CARNAVALE! It was completely worth the trip! Carnavale lived up to all the hype. I took a gazillion picture (not an exaggeration). These are just some of the many pictures. To start with, below you can see us in St. Mark's Square.

Us outside of the Doge's Palace

Us inside the palace We weren't allowed to take pictures inside the Doge's Palace, but I put this picture of the entrance way on the blog...just imagine, if this is what the entrance is like, the palace was that much more beautiful.

Below is the "Bridge of Sighs." Once someone was convicted of a crime, he/she had to pass through this bridge which led them out of the palace (where the hearings were held) to the prison. It's titled the Bridge of Sighs because it's said that the criminal would take one last look of freedom and sigh in regret.

This window gave a convicted criminal one last look at freedom.

This is the view from the window in the Bridge of Sighs...a great last look at freedom.Us along the Grand Canal

Us with the clock tower

Venice boasts of having the first digital clock in the world (seen below).

The Realto Bridge

Along the many beautiful canals of Venice

The smaller canals are the most beautiful.

Can you imagine your front door opening to the water?

Jason is showing off his ice cream. Italy has the BEST ice cream (gelato) in the world. It's so creamy.

Can you believe that we weren't the only ones with the idea of spending Presidents' Day weekend in Venice? Crowded doesn't even accurately describe the amount of people on this small island!

Jason doesn't usually like crowds, but he was quite the trooper through the masses.

Of course, it's the costumes that everyone is here to see this particular weekend. The costumes run the gamut. Some are beautiful, others outrageous, and others questionable. Here are some of my favorites (from all the categories).

Some people in costumes are "professionals," and they know how to stage themselves in order to create a beautiful picture.

And some are just fun

The guy above made my day. I LOVE taking pictures, and I have gotten pretty good at it. But during Carnavale the real professionals come out (my nice big camera was put to shame). The "professional costumers" pass out business cards to the professional photographers. This guy was liking the pictures I was taking of him so much that he gave ME his card. He didn't know it was my birthday...but he certainly gave me a great present!

Even the dogs dress up!

I guess wearing a costume all day can get tiring.

These people in costumes look awfully sad...not at all what we were feeling during our last trip to Venice! I can't imagine living here for six years and never having gone to Carnavale. It was a trip of a lifetime!