VENICE CARNIVAL COSTUMES 2012

It's a whole other world in Venice during carnival time. Never have I seen the city like this...so full of people (and I mean masses of people)...a party atmosphere everywhere...visitors from every country..and so many costumes. Now I took so many pictures that I can't possibly post all of them. I will give some highlights of what we saw in St. Marks square and as we walked throughout the city. This is before we got our costumes. That is another story.

VENICE MASKS

As you walk through the streets of Venice every other shop is a mask shop. In the squares they have set up tents selling capes, costumes, and masks. Some have a mask on and some don't. Some are dressed up in costumes and others go about their way...but none is an usual sight for these people. We have brought a few masks with us but there are so many nice ones that we pick a few more. Prices vary from shop to shop, but you never know if you will find that shop again because of so many little ally ways that we buy as we go. So it's not unusual to pay too much at one and very little at another. Some of the ones we brought from home only cost us a couple of dollars but can run you 18 euros here. The mask shops are beautiful with masks that go up to hundreds of euros.

So as we go through the streets at night we will put on our masks..not during the day though.

COSTUMES ARE COMING OUT

We have arrived in Venice....masks and gowns are everywhere. The bells on the church are ringing. Tonight we get to pick up our own gowns that we will wear at the ball tomorrow evening. I wonder if they will still fit. I have had so many French pastries the past few days I am second guessing myself...but they were worth it and who knows when I will be back to Paris.

VENICE

The train ride from Paris to Venice was quick when you sleep all the way. Our coach had four people sleeping in it - me the Canadian, my cousin the American, a French lady, and a woman who is Australian but is living in England. We were the United Nations just the four of us.

The group next to us was already in the carnival mode...Even as we were boarding the guys helping us out were already wearing masks. Wine was flowing as the group next door had spilled out into the hallway. Carnival has begun and we haven't reached Venice yet.

From the train we then took the vaporetto that let us off at our bridge where we pulled our suitcases over the cobblestone road to our hotel. Our suitcases have almost reached their limit in weight that we can bring back...I am not sure what we are going to do. We haven't even begun shopping in Venice yet.

And here we are...Venice greets me and wonders why it has taken  me so long to get back here. I wonder the same thing. I forgot there were so many bridges in this city. So our adventure in Venice starts.

PARIS SHOPPING

Today we slept in a little bit and then made our way to do some shopping that took us to 7 o'clock. With bags in hand we took the metro home instead of walking today. After the past few days of walking through most of Paris, it was time to use the metro. So if you are counting our modes of transportation so far, that would be car, airplane, shuttle, boat, and metro or subway. Tomorrow we will check out of our hotel but not leave Paris until tomorrow night when we take the train to Venice. That will give us most of the day to do more shopping and eat the last of Paris' great pastries. If I could box them up, I would. That is the one thing I will miss here.

What I won't miss are the pickpocketers...the young kids who do this. Today as we were transferring on the metro we literally had these young girls behind us as we got onto the subway with their hands on our legs. What gave them away was that it's a school day and they weren't at school. My pocket book was in front of me and my cousin had hers in her coat pocket with her hand in her pocket. Both of us quickly moved out of their way and onto the crowded subway.When only one of them was able to get onto the subway, she quickly jumped off again. A woman on the platform started yelling and screaming, but she made enough noise that the scattered. That part I won't miss at all.

So when in Paris shopping or on a subway or train stay away from crowded areas where people shove against you. That's when you don't feel them because you are being pushed as you board. In only a few seconds, they can quickly take your wallet. While shopping today we did pay attention as we went about our way.

How did we do you ask?  I think we did pretty good. I myself am the proud new owner of a new pair of French shoes and short boots along with a new coat, sweater, pants, tops, gloves, hats, sraves and much more. My cousin seems to have bought a whole new wardrobe. We are not sure she has room in her suitcase, but we will find out tonight when we pack.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY VERSAILLES

Today we took the metro to Versailles to see the Palace of Versailles. Quite appropriate for Valentine's Day...don't you think? My cousin and I actually had a good time there. Although the gardens were not in season, and most of the statues were covered up, it was still nice to be in Versailles for the day and tour the palace. We grabbed a bite in one of the cafes in the town and did some shopping as well. Back to the hotel we dropped off our bags and headed back out again to go to Galaries Lafayette to do some more shopping. We were a bit too late....the stores close much earlier here than any of our malls. So tonight instead of having supper at such a terribly late hour, we were actually going to be eating early for us ..8 in fact. We set off to go to supper choosing to eat Italian tonight. I know, it sounds kind of weird...we are in France eating Italian food...but my cousin dreamed she had pizza and salad last night, so we were going to make that happen.

What happened at the restaurant...well that could be considered a made for TV movie...let's just say that we got roses and drinks sent to our table and it looked like they were never going to give us our bill and wanted us to stay.I have to say that we had quite the Valentine's Day, left the money on the table for the bill and ran  out before the owner of the restaurant had the chance to tell us once again that he was off tomorrow evening. Really? We're cousins...

On the metro ride back to our hotel we met a fellow New Yorker here at school - David, who said he was at school for a semester and who rode the metro with us and told us it was good to hear someone speak English. He wished us   Happy Valentine's Day as we got off at our stop. It was truly an interesting evening.

PARIS SIGHTSEEING

Today we were on the boat with our guide...We tried to save our legs from walking too much, but it didn't help, we still ended up walking through the streets of Paris - sometimes we walked in circles. When a French man tells you to go left, he didn't tell us there would be three roads that went left. And of course, we took the wrong left.

What we did see today was the Eiffel, the Arc de Triomphe, Champe Elysees, and Parc de Monceau where a lot of Monet's garden paintings were from this park.

Since it is very late...what is it here that we spend midnight out in Paris? We don't get to sleep until 3 or 4 in the morning. Tonight we will at least by 2. So we will show you today in pictures and give you more details another time. 

               

MIDNIGHT IN PARIS

 

Today we went to the Louvre,walked through the gardens, went on a boat ride, stopped and ate pastries...did a little bit of shopping, and very slowly made it back to our hotel tired and exhausted. Trying to pack as much as we can in our days is in itself an exhausting task. It does look like I will return to Paris again, probably at a slower pace though...and maybe when the flowers have bloomed and I sit and relax on the benches and catch my breath. Midnight in Paris for a second night....And if you have had a chance to see the movie "Midnight in Paris", then you will understand me when I say....I am still waiting for Hemingway's car to pick me up and take me to another time. This whole city transports you back to past years and as you walk through the avenues and cross over the bridges, you can almost make yourself believe that you are part of this city's past.

So far I have found the people of Paris very friendly. We have met some very nice people along our way.Many who work in the shops are from other countries - Spain, Africa....and they have the most passion for this life they are leading here in Paris and have been super friendly to us.

TWO GIRLS IN PARIS

Well, the two of us have made it to Paris in one piece - no sleep and a bit ragged. We managed to find each other in the terminal...but Lucy had to do some fast running from one terminal to the one I was coming into (she thinks it was 2 miles). And it could have been...all she knows was that it was far. We did a bit of sightseeing today, but with all those pastry shops one after another and the coffee, we didn't get too far. They were the best croissants I have ever tasted. We did a lot of walking, and give us credit, on no sleep, I think we did pretty good. Who knew they shut down the parks in the evening...We didn't get the handbook on whistle blowing. Did we know it meant they were closing...I think not, but we will know now. It's a good thing they didn't shut the gates with us in there....Could you have seen that. I did buy a new cookbook today though....surprise.

SUPER BOWL...THEN VACATION

The next few days are going to go by in a whirlwind. What with the Super Bowl tomorrow, packing, working, and last minute running around, oh and getting pictures developed for the pre Oscar party (that I am going to miss next week), there will be little time for anything else before I am off to my Paris/Venice adventure.

It seems my cousin has created an itinerary for Paris for the two of us after watching countless movies about Paris. Other than the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre, I am pretty easy with how we spend our days since Venice will be so busy when we get there. Lucy insists that she has added plenty of rest stops along the way each day for us. And the shopping - You can`t forget the shopping....Get ready for pictures with many bags with our purchases as we make our way through both Paris and Venus. We hit Paris just at the tail end of their season sales. We will get to spend Valentìne`s Day in Paris (quite romantic don`t you think).

So for now, I am going to at least get my suitcase out - I`m a last minute packer. Everything is set, the plane, train, and boat tickets are ready. The vouchers are printed, the hotels are booked, and the gowns, capes, and masks are bought. We are on our way....

As for the Super Bowl, I am a bit split in the middle, since I like both New England and New York.... But to pick one team.....I am going to go for the Giants. Tom Brady is just not doing it for me. So get out the snacks and the drinks (I`ll have a glass of wine thanks), bring on Madonna, and let`s watch the game.