Comments on: It’s Carnevale Time in Venice!

By: LE CHEMN DU BONHEUR

LE CHEMN DU BONHEUR — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 06:31:35 +0000

Happy to see one of my carnevale friend on you blog ! I am one of the “maschere” who random through San Marco. And that’s a real dream.
Dream to be in the most beautiful town in the world and to be just an umber there, and umber without age only there for pleasure and mystery.
Dreamly yours

LE CHEMN DU BONHEUR’s last blog post..DECO PASSION : UN VIEUX PALAIS A VENISE

Cool! Thanks so much for stopping by

By: ciaochowlinda

ciaochowlinda — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 13:50:40 +0000

hi michelle – am writing to you from padova but am heading tomorrow to venice to see a little bit of their carnevale before a week of skiing in the dolomites. check out my blog on carnevale and chiacchiere. i spent a week in venice during carnevale two years ago and had an amazing time. can’t wait to check up on your other recipes after i get back.
linda

ciaochowlinda’s last blog post..Time Out for Research and a Give-Away

Will pop in and visit for sure; thank for letting us know

By: Jacques

Jacques — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 10:33:31 +0000

Venitian rivalries are definitely less enthusiastically acted upon than they may have been in the past. Now even the Regattas that have affilitaions with the single “Sestieri” end up tied to the main players, and not so much to local neighborhood pride.
Maybe because the average age of the residents is rising so quickly and continuously? Not nearly as many young people here as even twenty-thirty years ago, as the historical center housing market is losing out to B&B conversions and forcing all but family moneyed newlyweds to escape to the more reasonably priced mainland.

Now the main differences tend to be socio-cultural: Dorsoduro is full of all nationalities of rich expats (think Guggenheim); Castello is older residents that have remained – urban legend says that some haven’t ever been to Piaaza San Marco just because they never needed to; Santa Croce is like a Città Studi; San Polo a mix; Cannaregio popular-residential; and San Marco is tourism. Overgeneralized, obviously, but try and find a supermarket in the sestiere di San Marco – not too easy.

There is not much neighborhood identity, as much as a survivor instinct as a “still Venetian”.
An anecdotal example: a few people I know (separately: one elderly couple and a single retired man) had lived in subsidized housing around Cannaregio for years, when the upkeep costs for the apartments (owned by the Comune di Venezia) became too much. One got sold to be converted to a Hotel/B&B, and the other, “buh?”, just became unliveable I think without massive rennovation. The couple got sent to Murano, but come back to do all their shopping in the stores they have used for a lifetime, and the retired man was banished, as he puts it, to “Alcatraz” – the separate island(s) of the Giudecca (a sort of 7th sestiere, sort of “part” of Dorsoduro I believe).

That’s about the extent of local loyalism as far as i have seen. Being a pedestrian culture (no cars, and boats not commonly used for “normal” transportation) there are many friendships “on sight” which are different than other “normal” terrestrian cities, but not any sort of Palio mentality that I have ever seen.

As to the different Sestieri “getting the limelight” during Carnevale, my take is that it is part “public order” trying to spread out the crowds and make them more manageable, part “public relations” trying to share the shrinking tourist coinage amongst a larger number of merchants (and not just the storekeepers on the main road between Ferrovie and San Marco), and “plain old marketing” trying to make it grander than it really is so that it is more enticing.

Don’t get me wrong, it is a sight to see. It can be fun if you are expecting, and can enjoy, the crowded callette and packed Piazza and chaotic campielli. But it ain’t exactly what they’re advertising on the Sensation09 website and tourist videos.

Very, very interesting Jacques. I’ve often wondered how many Venetians live in Venice (and Romans live in Rome, etc.). If you do go out and about to experience the senses, please come back and fill us in

By: Lisa

Lisa — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 23:14:38 +0000

I lived in Rio de Janeiro for 5 years and it was the time of my life! Dancing in the famous parade in the Sambadromo was exhilarating, but the street parades in the neighborhoods are just as invigorating. Afterwards, the city falls in a sleepy relaxation. I do miss the rhymth and the sounds of the city during Carnaval

Sounds awesome, Lisa; I love the “sleepy relaxation” afterwards…a perfect circle of celebrating

By: Valerie

Valerie — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 12:07:16 +0000

Haven't been to Venice, but Ascoli throws a pretty great party, and some of the hilltowns in the area have wonderful, crazy (and slightly dangerous!) traditions. Lotsa fun! Valerie’s last blog post..The Lighthouse Sounds great!

By: qualcosa di bello

qualcosa di bello — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 17:35:45 +0000

this is on my “go to” list!!

qualcosa di bello’s last blog post..because my mind is working in short bursts…

And I *know* you’ll get there

By: jen of a2eatwrite

jen of a2eatwrite — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 17:32:54 +0000

I was lucky enough to be in New Orleans during Mardi Gras the winter before Katrina. It was quite an education! jen of a2eatwrite’s last blog post..Happy Valentine's Day! I imagine...photographic evidence?!

By: Laura

Laura — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 14:47:08 +0000

Ciao Michelle! I have come to think of Carnevale as “lasagna season” … mmmm … because it is when people seem to prepare it the most here in Campania. I am looking forward to What’s Cooking Wednesday this week!

OK now I may have to make lasagna…it’s been a few weeks for us. I usually make it once a week from the end of November until Easter or so!

By: Mikeachim

Mikeachim — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 23:56:56 +0000

However the reality measures up (Jacques paints a vivid picture) it sounds quite an experience. And I *love* the idea of different quarters (or rather sixths) of the city getting the limelight one area after another. Is there a spirit of healthy rivalry and oneupsmanship, I wonder? Mikeachim’s last blog post..A Year’s Webhosting for WHAT? From what I've seen of Italians and their respective neighborhoods, YES!

By: Laurie V

Laurie V — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 22:25:20 +0000

This sounds fabulous and those pictures from your article are so fun too! This would be a sensory overload to look forward to Michelle! I wish I were there!

Laurie V’s last blog post..Warm Milk with Butter, Rum & Nutmeg

Would definitely produce fabulous photos, wouldn’t it? All those colors!