Venice Carnivale

Alexander Pope once said, "And, after all, what is a lie? 'Tis but the truth in a masquerade."

Carnivale in Venice was amazing. Venice is amazing!! From the 31st of January to the 17th of February marked the most whimsical, enchanting, and exciting weekend in Italy. The combination of the festivities and incredible food I tried all weekend definitely made this one of my favorite weekends so far abroad. Although I arrived on Friday in a windy downpour, my friends and I ran to buy knee-high rain boots to match the locals and trudged through the flooded streets. When Venice floods due to the high tide or rain, the city builds raised wooden walkways for people to walk in the streets in order to not get wet. After we prepared for the weather, our next stop was obvious: Gelato!

The festivities were in full force on Saturday and Sunday and the days were filled with costume contests, parades, and many, many photo opportunities with the best dressed. Sunday was the official first day of Carnivale, and I battled a crowd comparable to NYC on Times Square to see a woman fly from the top of St. Mark's Basilica down to the center of the square for the "Flight of the Angel." At night there were street performers, fireworks, and a celebration that lasted well into the night.

The air of mystery, excitement, and bustle happening in Venice was unparalleled to anything I've seen in Europe. If there's any time you choose to visit Venice in your lifetime, make it Carnivale. You won't regret it.

Katie Kennelly is the Spring 2015 CEA MOJO Photographer in Barcelona, Spain. She is currently a junior at Cornell University.