…is dull. Really.
It’s just another business day for Venice shops. They are all open, hoping to lure the “revelers” in for some sales. Problem is, there are not that many revelers. And the ones on the streets don’t really revel the way we in New Orleans know.
The crowds at San Marco were smaller on Tuesday than they were on Monday, and smaller on Monday than they were on Sunday (in the rain, no less). In fact, Saturday was the biggest crowd of all at San Marco.
Although many people dress in elaborate 17th and 18th century costumes and parade around town, there is a remarkable lack of revelry and foolishness. Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that no one drinks on the streets. But the overall atmosphere is just dull. The main stage in San Marco featured some Russian folk bands and dancers on a secondary stage at ground level where you could not see them except for the video screen. But there was no excitement, no carousing, really no fun to the entire scene.
Sorry to diss Venetian Carnival/Mardi Gras, but we have learned that New Orleans knows how to do this better than Venice.
We retired back to the apartment by mid-afternoon for a bit of a lay day. Of course, Lynn prepared our traditional Mardi Gras steak. Not exactly Crescent City bit a quite tasty entrecote with sauteed mushrooms and wilted garlic spinach, all cooked stovetop.
I should have bought a mask for the occasion, but just couldn’t bear to give in.
Happy Mardi Gras!
