Gloria and MarkFeb 16, 20182 minCarnival in VeniceWe decided to end our Italian ski vacation with 8 days in Venice and we were lucky to experience 4 days of one of the most famous carnivals in the world. Carnival started here back in 1162 when happy Venetians gathered in St. Mark's Square to celebrate a military victory. The custom of dressing up in elaborate costumes and partying heavily continued until 1797 when Venice came under Austrian control. The Italian government revived carnival in 1979 as a way to promote tourism
Gloria and MarkJan 30, 20172 minDressing for Venice Carnival without breaking the bankAs soon as we booked our trip to Carnival in Venice we started to daydream about who we would be for a week. We wanted to keep our costs down, but we wanted to change our identities completely. One of the most famous carnival costumes is of the plague doctor - the somewhat sinister looking character with the long beaked nose and spectacles. The character is based on history. In the Middle Ages, Venice was besieged by plague and thousands died. The real "doctors" wore massive
Gloria and MarkJan 26, 20172 minTop five reasons to take kids to Carnival in Venice1. Everyone can wear a costume for weeks 2. The food is delicious 3. They magically absorb art and history 4. The fun is appropriate for children (not X-rated like some other Mardi Gras celebrations) 5. It's a unique way to build memories as a family Most Americans might not think of taking their kids to Carnival in Venice, but when we saw children from around the world having the times of their lives, we regretted not having thought of it when our kids were little. Just thi
