Venice

A memorable trip it was! A trip to Venice, the city of water. Visited many museums, Doge's Palace, San Michelle(one of my favourite, it's actually a cemetery, nevertheless, extremely beautiful!!), Murano(glass making was the trade of the residents of the island-watched part of glass making process), Burano(the most beautiful island maybe, among the 120 islands; lace making was the trade for women, while men were fishermen. houses were really colourful and the atmosphere is very peaceful and quiet-should be a good place for retirement or holiday) and Ghetto(Jewish residence, there's a synagogue there, but didn't make it in time for the mass and it was closed). We visited the alleys, all surrounded by shops selling clothes, masks, accessories, souvenirs and also food, of course=D

We also had a gondola ride, although i wouldn't say it was worth the price, but it was a new experience=D amazing how a guy can steer a gondola with up to 8 people in it. The gondola is shorter on the side where the oar is, to make sure that it goes straight since they row only on one side. We missed the Rialto market, though.. coz it was a Sunday. The veporato or water bus was the main means of transport.

San Marco square was really really packed, especially during the weekends and during day time, where many were seen dressed in all sorts of costumes(mask, accessories, make-up and clothes). From dutches, doges, princesses, angels, royalty, Zorro, chinese, noah(really caught my eye-he was with his ark with animals all in pairs! and he only stopped and pose when people call him noah! funny guy..) to tele tubbies and some kind of Frankenstein! Families were out, even the children were dressed in costumes! I think it's a way to bring the family together, doing something together. There were also costume parades at different times of the day, it was really pleasing to the eye and just marvel at the creativity of people. There was also bands with drums accompanying the costume parade, together successfully creating a festive and joyous atmosphere. On one of the nights, there was a tango dance night and an open floor, it was much less packed as compared to the day time. People were dancing away, some were professionals, quite nice, the dances. What's more amazing is the lady who could wear a skirt and dance in the cold for so long!

All in all, thank God for a great trip with great friends and thank God also for good weather, sunny and not raining!=D