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Sabato 21.02.09
Our Trip to Carnevale! We were so excited, we didn't sleep but a few hours before our 5:30am wake up call. Left Arcobaleno at 6:15am to make it to Bocconi to meet the buses for a 7:00am departure (which turned out to be more like an 8:00am departure). We needed 4 double decker buses to accomodate 335 people (out of 400 international students) and no surprise, it took about 5 hours to get there door-to-door because of the sheer enormity of our group.
Took water taxis from the parking area and arrived at the docks to join the rest of the crowds. Released into the streets and canals of Venezia, people bought masks, got their faces painted, and wandered the streets shopping. Wandering was actually one of our primary activities because the narrow streets are like a maze and you have no idea where you are or where you're going. Nobody cares though because there is something beautiful around every corner and you're having so much fun, you don't have time to worry about following a map.
The masses of other Carnevale goers made it hard to stick together as well and after a few hours it was down to just Hilary and I. This made it easier to admire the Murano glass and hand-made masks in the little shops and take pictures of all the costumes. I would estimate that about 80% of the people there were dressed up in some way, even if it was just a cape or a crazy hat. I myself wore a band of purple eye shadow to match my purple, glittery hair (both Hilary and I dyed our braids purple and it was AWESOME). True Carnevale though is very much about elegance and mystery. I had been expecting a cross between Louisiana's Mardi Gras and scenes from the Hunchback of Notre Dame (even though that's in France, whatever) so I was surprised but not disappointed when we found the atmosphere to be charged but not ridiculous. In fact, there were a lot of children there who happily, did not demand we flash them before they would shower us with confetti.
At 3:30pm we watched the Best Carnival Mask Contest in Piazza San Marco - probably my favorite part of the whole day. Anyone with an elaborate costume could participate and from the looks of it, they work on them all year long! Each round was judged on taste and creativity and the final decision would be made by an Oscar-winning costume designer on Sunday. One of my favorites was a mother and daughter who had matching blue ball gowns. The little girl was obviously having the time of her life and waving quite demurely to the crowds, ah how young they learn these days. Another was a couple that was dressed as Cinderella and The Fairy Godmother. The woman's gown had a pumpkin and a castle embroidered on it and she even had elements of the story incorporated into her wig as did her partner. His role as Fairy Godmother was given away by the spools of thread and sewing form in his wig!
Afterward, Hilary and I tried to make our way to Piazza San Polo for live music and dancing but we ended up having dinner in a fabulous restaurant instead (no surprise there). Four courses and a bottle of wine later we realized that we had to be back at the docks in 15 minutes! We really had no idea where we were or how to get back and since I didn't bring my map, we were armed only with our "International Spy-like" senses of direction. They served us well however, because after 15 minutes of hard sprinting down streets and over bridges, we skidded to a stop in the middle of our huge group! It was hilarious and kind of fit in with the whole care-free, crazy atmosphere of Carnevale.
We taxied back to the buses under the stars, leaving the sparkling Venezia behind. Arrived back in Milano a little past midnight and tried to wind down after such a fun day :)
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