Carnival In Venice

Picture Fifth Avenue when it is really busy for Christmas and you can't walk because it is so crowded. Put those people in costumes dressed for Halloween and it is something like here. There must be a million people traversing these little alleyways. It is festive but difficult to walk.

When I arrived I could not remember where my hotel was located. I was here a number of years ago. There were many tourists then but nothing like now during Carnival. My suitcase is really heavy and I was becoming quite demoralized. I was lucky that the woman guards outside the exit of the Doge's Palace helped me and called the hotel to find out the directions. Then I had to start schlepping again through the crowds.

Suddenly there was a hand-truck next to me and I got the guy to take my suitcase all the way to the hotel. That really cheered me up. Then I had spaghetti with clams and chicken with spinach with a half carafe of wine and that definitely cheered me up.
There are many French, Germans, Russians and some Americans.  Considering the low value of the dollar at the moment the scarcity of Americans can be explained. 

The first thing I did today was visit the Doge's Palace. There are great paintings and the palace is beautiful but you can't take photos inside. There is also the largest room in all of Europe in the palace.
I then felt I needed to participate at least a little so I bought a mask with feathers. I took a picture of myself.  I spent the rest of the day just walking the length of Venice with my mask on. 

I crossed the Rialto Bridge and walked all the way to the railroad station and then crossed over the canal again and walked through the old Ghetto. Went to a very fine Restaurant tonight called Osteria Oliva Nera.  It was a little over my price line, however very good and the hosts were charming.  Also met a lovely English couple at the end of the meal who have seen more states than I.

Judy