carnevale di venezia

Did you know that the word confetti originates from the Italian language? It seems fitting since the Italians sure do know how to pull off a rockin' carnival.
I was pretty fortunate to be able to revisit Venice (from the summer before last) for their famous Carnival which takes place every February with a group of about 40 international students from my university in Grenoble. We really took advantage of the whole mask-wearing activity since when else can you walk around with a silly painted mask on your face?

The whole town was chalk full of people parading around in the most outrageously beautiful and grand outfits. Also the crowds were bigger than any I've ever seen. Our bodies were squeezed together so tight that at one point I was afraid we were going to start fighting over the oxygen. 

And because no trip to Venice is complete without a gondola ride, a couple of us girls piled in and went for a spin through the canals!

Fabio, our sweet little gondolier who was serenading us with Italian melodies 

Other festivities include trying Limoncello, surviving the overnight bus (thank you, sweet Nyquil), wandering around Murano Island in the rain and falling in love with Italian Bellinis!

Thank you, Venice, for the sweet memories.