{April A-Z Challenge} The Letter V

V is for ... Venetian Mask

Since before I went to Italy, I have always been fascinated with the Venetian Masks and I have always wanted my own so that I could get all dressed up and attend my very own masquerade ball.

The first thing I did when I got to Venice was begin the hunt for the perfect mask. I had no idea what I wanted, but I knew I would know it when I saw it. (Kind of like wedding dress shopping, you know)

We saw ornate masks, creepy masks and gorgeous masks. I saw the perfect one! A cat mask. Featuring little black velvet ears, sequins and black lace, it was the most exquisite piece I had ever seen. I was bitterly disappointed to discover that the store was already closed.

The search continued - and I found my 2nd perfect mask.

I have had it since 2005 and I have yet to attend an event where I get to wear the mask. Go figure!

It has always been a dream of mine to visit Venice and attend the annual masked balls, it must surely be something spectacular to experience.

Travel Tuesday: Italy, Venice

One of my favourite places of all time. 

The culture and the food. 

The romance of  the warmly lit narrow walkways.

Venice is a place for lovers.

Venice is also listed as a World Heritage Site.

Venice is built on wooden piles and is prone to flooding on Spring time.

When travelling through the canals on gondola - the water and algae marks the tideline over many seasons.

I have heard many people say that Venice is a very dirty city, but while there we saw no dirt or refuse and there was no small from the canal water. Perhaps my nose was frozen off! 

Even the worst weather of our holiday;  -5 degrees Celcius ("This weather is so unusual", say the locals) with icy wind and slushy snow could not deter me from falling in love with this city.

Bridge of Sighs

The prisoners walked across this bridge to be hung and it is said that even now you can still hear the sighs of the long dead.

Santa Maria della Salute

A very popular cathedral - Saint Mary of Health -  presiding over the Grand Canal, it was built as a thank you for those who survived the Plague in the 1600s

Pigeon Whisperer

Have a bag of bird food in your hand and before you can say tweet - the birds bombard you. 

It felt like they were everywhere and yet when you see the photos, it isn't the same as the Hitchcock scene you imagined it to be

Food? Food, food, food, food!

The Grand Canal

Masks

We trawled the dimly lit streets looking for the "perfect mask". I found a black lace mask in the visage of a cat, but the shop was closed. I was beginning to despair when I came across a silver and blue mask. I have never worn it. But I will one day!

At the end of the day after getting extremely lost in the maze of narrow streets, we found our way to a cosy little coffee shop and ordered Cappucinos to warm up. Sitting inside the restaurant and watching the snow gently falling outside I remember thinking that 1 day I would return for my honeymoon.
Making our way to our collection point - the Belltower, I had to stop and take this photo. It took a few tries with my little point and shoot - I had to try to stand very still so as to avoid the camera shake. I eventually managed to capture the warm glow that I always associate with Venice in my head.

The snow was falling and all around us, the sounds of the city were muted - lending to the air of romance and magic.

St Mark's Campanile