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- Apr 19, 2024
- ☁️ 61 °F
- Altitude: 30 ft
- ItalyVenetoVeniceMestre45°29’28” N 12°14’48” E
Venice, Italy
April 19 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 61 °F
April 19
Aaahhhh, what is it about Venice that makes the heart sing? We don't know if it is Morano glass, gondolas, or winged lions, but we do know that Venice is a special place that makes us happy. We took a boat taxi to our hotel by the Rialto Bridge and settled in before our Gondalo Ride in the Canals.
Couldn't help but notice how much cleaner the water and the city were since the last time we were here. We were told of the cities' stricter rules and improved utilization of pull carts as they walk the alleyways ringing doorbells to collect the trash. Nice improvements and making a hugh difference in the city.
April 20
We are in for a treat as we met our eccentric Venitian artist mask maker in his workshop to learn all about the art of mask making. Once the basic clay face shape is made, he creates a plaster negative mold in which to shape the mask using a paper mache technique of glue and a wool blend paper. Several layers later, after drying and sanding, it is coated with a white tempura paint, and the artist is ready to paint and decorate.
We all had fun when the artist put different masks on the guys as he told us the history of each type of mask. For example, the mask w the long nose was used in the Middle Ages by physicians during the Black Plague, and they would put herbs inside to nose to hide the bad smell of death.
Women, by contrast, wore Button Masks. The mask was held in place by putting the button located behind the mask in their mouth. Since they could not talk, they had to flirt to get a man's attention at the ball. If they like you, they ask you to reveal yourself. If they then ask that you put the mask back on....., oh ohh.
We then went to St. Mark's Square, Basilica, and Doge's Palace. Love the Venitian clock in the Square. Its hands are set to relate to sunrise and sunset and correspond closer to the lunar Jewish calendar. Napolean didn't like it and chose the French clock time, which we all still use today.
Our guide also told us that Venice was more free spirited, and unlike Rome, maintained separation of church and state. The first republic was where the Doge (leader) was elected. Thomas Jefferson was said to have traveled Europe to look at all types of government and chose Venice as a role model for the U.S. elections, and separation of church and state.
While walking the bridges, canals and fun shops, we saw a pair of shoes from the 1400's. Venice is known to flood, and these shoes were built on platforms so that women could walk through muddy water and not get their feet wet or dress dirty.
That night, we had a wonderful canalside dinner table as we watched the Gondalo's go by before going to an enchanting Vivaldi concert.Read more
We are missing you by a month! [Tina Dahl]
Traveler Miss you guys — we have 2 more days - and our adventure comes to an end. We will keep following your travels.
Traveler Miss you guys 2. Thanks for keeping us posted on the Viking adventures as well.