Venetian Events, Venetian Food

Signs of approaching Carnival

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Carnival has become one of my least favorite things about Venice, because each year its negative aspects increasingly outweigh the positive.

I am referring to the Mega-Commercial-Highly-Promoted Carnival whose vortex is the Piazza San Marco. But Carnival in its small, neighborhood version continues to charm me, mainly because it almost exclusively involves children (the smaller, the better) and their doting relatives.  Random frolicking.  Dressing up for no reason (by which I mean, not the reason of being photographed to, for, by, or with anyone, particularly tourists). Throwing fistfuls of confetti anywhere.

I don’t need to look at the calendar to know that Carnival has, as of today, officially begun. For the past few days the signs have been unmistakable.

Here are a few:

Even though this pastry shop/cafe produces wonderful Carnival sweets (galani and frittelle, in case you're wondering), they are overpriced. But I do like the way their sign is lettered, as if by newspaper bits cut out by someone composing an anonymous ransom note.
This pastry shop/cafe produces wonderful Carnival sweets (galani and frittelle, in case you’re wondering), even though they are overpriced. But I do like the way the words are composed, as if someone was more accustomed to composing anonymous ransom notes using cutout newspaper letters.
There have been explosions of confetti, increasing in quantity and range, for a few days now. The perpetrators have disappeared...
There have been indiscriminate explosions of confetti, increasing in quantity and range, for a few days now. The perpetrators are invisible.
Climbing the stairs to visit a friend two days ago, I discovered this mysterious harbinger of Carnival: The princess costume. Just add princess and throw confetti.
Climbing the stairs to visit a friend two days ago, I discovered this mysterious harbinger of Carnival: The princess costume. Just add princess and throw confetti.

 

 

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3 Comments

  1. I’m really enjoying your blog! I visited Venice a couple of years ago, and it made a lasting impression on me. Thank you for writing such interesting pieces!

    Reply

    1. Thank you! I’ll do my best to keep you interested, or amused, or surprised, or whatever I’m up to that day.

      Reply
  2. Pingback: The Carnival spirit | Venice: I am not making this up

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