Venice Carnival

Although it's the coldest winter in almost 30 years in Europe, we still decided to check out the Carnival in Venice, hoping the passionate Italian spirits will warm us up. 

The Carnival starts 40 days before Easter every year and ends on Fat Tuesday. It started as celebration among different classes, as masks cover the social status. The tradition was brought back by the government in 1970. 

 

The masks are the center of the big fest. They were created to hide identities to communicate freely with different social classes. Now they are getting more glamourous every day. There are several different types: The Bauta, the full-face mask; the Columbina, the eye masks and the most bizarre "The plague doctor" originally adopted Charles des lorme. 

  

Me with a Columbina

The Caffe Florian is probably one of the most famous cafe in the world. It opened in 1720 and was the only coffee house that allowed women. Famous writers like Charles Dickson and Marcel Proust were regular visitors.

The best tiramisu I ever had

So in character 

Venice is also a shopping paradise, there are luxury shoots everywhere between the historical streets and canals. 

Couldn't resist it, I bought my very first luxury wallet in the very first Bottega Veneta store in Europe, and it was indeed the LAST one left in this color. 2-12-2012, it's quite a day to remember! :)

My first Bottega Veneta 

The core concept of Bottica Venega fits the city perfectly, as the wrinkles remains and leaves the "Memory" (the signature BV bag). It's not just about the product, but the history and the story behind it that made the dream.