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