Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Long live Venice ( part due )
In Piazza San Marco parades and concerts are held over about ten days to show off the most incredible, most awesome and most beautiful costumes. These Costumes compete with San Marco's Basilika and the Doge's Palace. Mom and I had to get there early to get a good spot, a spot close to the Stage to see the full Mask Parade. Most of the Event's back then were free, and maybe they still are, but the Costume Ball my Mom decided to visit had set us back for a few hundered Bucks.
We entered Piazza San Marco to Vivaldi on the Loudspeakers as the Mask Parade was on, we found it kind of difficult to see due to ever - swelling crowds. But it is a Shutterbug's Paradise!! Really everyone willingly poses for Photographs, afterall they don't wear Costumes to be ignored... but just when you thought you found the fanciest Costume, you'll surely find a much better one. - Atleast that was how we felt, Mom and I couldn't get enough.The most sought after Souvenirs are Masks, these have various price ranges. While the traditional ones are made of Paper Mache and hand painted - they tend to be more expensive and come in a huge variety of designs and sizes - the ceramic ones are more abundant. Some of those are also hand painted in many designs, varieties, colors and sized. After countless visits to Italy all of my Family members have learnt to avoid getting ripped off : Shop in Stores instead of Souvenir stands and most importantly away from the Tourist areas!! - I'm speaking from experiences, since my entire Vacations savings got Pick - pocketed at one time
Viva Venezia for its height of Color! ( part Uno )
It was 1997 and we just arrived in Treviso after leaving snowy Switzerland, we saw that Italy was sunscorched even in Winter. The brown landscape contrasted with the year-round green of Germany's Countryside, and it was hard to believe that we had been driving through the snowcapped Alps just Hours before.Despite the chilly Adriatic Breeze, we were immediately warmed by the Sun. Mom and I, we were about to celebrate the most vibrate and elegant Celebration around the World.
Our Bus into the Heart of Venice took us past several stately Villas, but to me, even the most ramshackled builing held a certain Charm. In less than an hour, I do believe it was before we even realized it, Venice loomed in Front of us in all its Glory.
Venice on a normal Day alone is magnificent, but Venice during Carnival is vibrant, colorful and joyous. If you think that this Magnificence can not be improved, then think again! Soon after our arrival signs of Carnivalbecame more and more apparent. Much of Venice's Population was in Costumes - from the most simple to the most expensive. Face painters were standing by, waiting to paint the most sparkly and fancy designs onto any willing Tourist. In every Shop window and Souvenir Stand there were Carnival Masks. While some are for wearing, others are just for Decoration - fortunately these Masks are sold year-round, so even if you miss the Carnival season, you can still capture a piece of it.
Our Bus into the Heart of Venice took us past several stately Villas, but to me, even the most ramshackled builing held a certain Charm. In less than an hour, I do believe it was before we even realized it, Venice loomed in Front of us in all its Glory.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
I am Wanted !
So yeah, it's official, I am here for 3 years.
And today was another Appointment at the Immigration Office, scheduled for mornings.
We got there, and ofcourse, we had to pick a Number again. Slowly but surely it just makes me laugh every time I need to show up there.
So we kept playing the Waiting Game until our Name was called at 11.45am. Inside the Office my Husband and I got questioned about how long we are married now, how many Children and how old, ect... .
Well, what I have learnt today is that I am - or was - " Wanted for illegal Immigration to the USA " since 2002 by the City of Baltimore, and that a Deportation was planned.
The Story behind this was that I've lived in Baltimore from 1999 to 2000, legally with a 2 - year Greencard, but then decided to pack my Stuff and move back to Europe at the End of 2000. So far so good, Hubby and I got a House in Germany and started our little Famile, since Brendan was already on the way. Brendan was born 2001 in Germany and now has a Dual Citizenship. - And so does his little Brother, Erin, born in 2003.
Little did we know back then that my Greencard was about to run out, muchless where to go to re-new it, and no one was in any way able to help. Okay, we were in Germany and Life was good... A. had a great Job at a Hospital for the Army and I , as a Stay - at- Home Mom , took care of Baby and everything else.
In 2007 A. decided to re-join the Military and after AIT got sent to F.L Wa. , I followed about 8 months later. Why that late ? Well, it's simple. I just had to finish everything up at home, afterall my Oldest was in the Middle of a Schoolyear. But the most obvious reason should be the Housing Factor ! I simply was not willing to live for God knows how long in a Motel Hotel, out of a Suitcase, cramped into a small room with 2 Boys - No, Thank You !!! And I am sure every Mother with an Ounce of Brain would agree with me on that.
Long Story short, my Application for a 10-Year - Greencard is after 3 Years still pending and there will be a Hearing at some Court Downtown Seattle about my Case... eventhough, it was clearly a ' Misunderstanding ' by the Immigration Office... Let's see how this will go on.
And today was another Appointment at the Immigration Office, scheduled for mornings.
We got there, and ofcourse, we had to pick a Number again. Slowly but surely it just makes me laugh every time I need to show up there.
So we kept playing the Waiting Game until our Name was called at 11.45am. Inside the Office my Husband and I got questioned about how long we are married now, how many Children and how old, ect... .
Well, what I have learnt today is that I am - or was - " Wanted for illegal Immigration to the USA " since 2002 by the City of Baltimore, and that a Deportation was planned.
The Story behind this was that I've lived in Baltimore from 1999 to 2000, legally with a 2 - year Greencard, but then decided to pack my Stuff and move back to Europe at the End of 2000. So far so good, Hubby and I got a House in Germany and started our little Famile, since Brendan was already on the way. Brendan was born 2001 in Germany and now has a Dual Citizenship. - And so does his little Brother, Erin, born in 2003.
Little did we know back then that my Greencard was about to run out, muchless where to go to re-new it, and no one was in any way able to help. Okay, we were in Germany and Life was good... A. had a great Job at a Hospital for the Army and I , as a Stay - at- Home Mom , took care of Baby and everything else.
In 2007 A. decided to re-join the Military and after AIT got sent to F.L Wa. , I followed about 8 months later. Why that late ? Well, it's simple. I just had to finish everything up at home, afterall my Oldest was in the Middle of a Schoolyear. But the most obvious reason should be the Housing Factor ! I simply was not willing to live for God knows how long in a Motel Hotel, out of a Suitcase, cramped into a small room with 2 Boys - No, Thank You !!! And I am sure every Mother with an Ounce of Brain would agree with me on that.
Long Story short, my Application for a 10-Year - Greencard is after 3 Years still pending and there will be a Hearing at some Court Downtown Seattle about my Case... eventhough, it was clearly a ' Misunderstanding ' by the Immigration Office... Let's see how this will go on.
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