February 9th-16th, 2018
Hey! Did you know residents of Venice used to wear masks all the time? Not because they were hideous trolls with bad acne…but masks were an integral part of daily activity in that they kept the citizens on an equal playing field. Servants could be noblemen. Interrogators and spies could question citizens without fear of being exposed, and citizens could answer without fear of punishment.
It was said, “With no faces, everyone had voices.”
Naturally, folks took it even further and cashed in on the mask-wearing benefits, with all sorts of decadent debauchery taking place. Even nuns and monks joined in on the hedonism!
Eventually, however, wearing masks during daily life was banned, limited to only certain months of the year.
Carnevale just so happens to be one of those times when humans can let their fancy freak flag fly before they have to “remove meat” or “say toodle-loo to meat” for Lent. Say goodbye to meat?! Good gravy, man! I’m. A. Dog. There’s no way in tarnation I would ever give up meat! The only time you’ll catch this furry paw waving goodbye to meat is as it takes a one-way trip past my tonsils and straight into my belly.
Anywho, Jo always wanted to experience the Carnival in Venice, and so she splurged on an amazing hotel just a 3-to-5-minute walk from all the action!
We stayed at the Hotel Flora, a 17th century building turned hotel and still run by the Romanelli family for over 50 years! We could only afford to stay a week, but holy shit – was this place HEAVEN!! It was a home away from home. Each and every person working there felt like a family member, a true friend. They made our visit to Venezia unforgettable, and we can’t thank them enough. 😀
* Vinicio was our bartender/chef. I believe he told Jo he’s worked there some 30+ years! Every time we came back from a walk, I’d race through the doors of the hotel and into the dining area to visit him…and see what the kitchen was cooking up! Vinicio spoiled me silly come dinnertime. 😉
Truly one of the nicest humans we’ve ever met!
* Stefano was our breakfast guru! Every morning Stefano would float up the stairs and waltz into our room with a huge tray of breakfast goodies for us, a sing-songy “Buongiornooo!” skipping off his lips
* These gentlemen were the front desk fellas! And I would race down the stairs every day as fast as my wee white paws would carry me to see if Giovanni was working (on the right)
They just don’t make humans like this anymore, folks…
As for the city itself, well, words cannot express how magical this place was! Never did Jo and I think this would be one of our all-time favorite places we’d visit, but damnit, Venice…you stole our hearts. If any of you ever get the chance to go, DO IT. And you gotta stay at Hotel Flora. Don’t forget to tell them we said hello!
Jo and I came to Venice for the experience…to people watch…to meander the winding alleys…to eat. And we did just that! We even got a chance to eat HORSE…and, I hate to say it, but it was tasty!
We hope, from these pictures, you get to experience a little bit of this enchanting city as well…
Yep. This is how we kicked off our trip to Venice! Got off the train and there were Native American musicians jamming outside the station…and this guy was totally on a whole ‘nother plane of existence. Grooving n’ swaying n’ making the ol’ jelly in the belly dance. 😉
* This lovely human duo was on the vaporetto we took from the station!
FUN FACT: A vaporetto isn’t a fancy Italian cookie or a cigarette. It’s a water bus! And, besides walking, it’s the cheapest way to get around the waterways, costing about 7-8 euros for 60 minutes…although you can get a pass which makes each journey cheaper.
* After getting off the vaporetto, we still had to walk a bit to our hotel, and Jo nearly tripped over our luggage trying to pull over and get a photo of this ornately costumed human we bumped into
I’m still not entirely sure why humans go bonkers and dress up like this.
Then again, I’m terrified of my own farts. So I guess the universe is full of mysteries!
* One of the views of the street in front of Hotel Flora
* This awesome place is tucked quietly down an alleyway…
* The dining area, where we loved to hang out!
* The courtyard
* Also in the courtyard. They even put warm blankets on the chairs for the guests to snuggle in when it’s cold out. 🙂 Oh, and in case you were wondering, yes, that was me posing in the nude…before I shrunk a few inches and sprouted all this hair. It’s hell getting old.
* Hand-blown glass mirror in our room!
* After we settled into our room, Jo and I were starving. So we headed to the dining room to see if I would be allowed inside. Vinicio did me one better. He set up my own place at a table, complete with candlelight and my own bowl of water. 😉
* Jo enjoyed a glass of whisky, and we both shared a caprese salad and lasagna that Vinicio whipped up for us
* We only had a short time here, so off to explore the city after dinner! This is another view of the street in front of our hotel
* The stores here were insane…dog portraits and cat clothing?!
* What Jo loved about Venice was that you would be walking along, over a bridge, down a small alleyway, and BAM, you almost walk straight into the water! Had to go back and find a different way to get where you wanted to go.
* This breakfast was NO JOKE. It didn’t matter if Jo only ordered a couple of items and said it was for one person and a dog, they would always bring an entire tray of food…and, of course, we felt obliged to eat it all! Can’t let this deliciousness go to waste! Jo and I would snuggle in bed, watch a bit of the Winter Olympics, and chow down before heading out to witness the festivities
* The Piazza San Marco! There were shows and contests, and ladies floating down from the tops of buildings into the piazza below…there was even a boat parade! But we missed that because Jo had to work. Boooo.
* We couldn’t believe the amount of detail in these costumes!!
* Jo said this guy had “sexy eyes.” Give it a rest, Jo!
* Even dogs got dressed up! Although the dog’s wig on the right didn’t want to stay on. These poor, poor bastards. What have your humans done to you?!
* Another dapper dog
* Jo thought this Island of Dr. Moreau human-dog hybrid was adooorable. I would have run away if it weren’t for this damn leash…
* Can you find this guy’s face?? 😉
* Coolest clock tower we’ve seen so far!
* Top middle of photo: We captured a bird butt in flight!
* After going gaga over as many costumes as we could, we set off to explore the rest of the nearby area!
* That’s one of the vaporettos behind my noggin
* Jesus, finally some uterus graffiti instead of dicks everywhere!
Oh, wait… 😉
* Jo LOVED these anthropomorphic doorbells/mail slots!!
* Jo managed to squeeze me into a costume and balance a mask on my snout just long enough to take a photo. But believe me…I fucking made her work for it!
* Apparently that wasn’t good enough for Gma. She demanded one of us together. So there ya’ go, Gma. 😀
And just like that, it was time for us to hit the road again. We checked out in the morning, but our train didn’t leave until 8 p.m. So Jo did her work in the dining room, and I reminisced about all the food we ate; the crazy, colorful characters we saw; the long, peaceful walks in the morning before the city woke up.
I remembered the delightful German couple who chatted us up at the bar and bought Jo a beer…the English and Irish ladies celebrating a birthday and who were completely hung over and well satisfied the next morning (they called me a tart for rolling onto my back and said I was a “bitser” breed, a “bit of this, a bit of that”)…and the Brazilian fellas who had an argument with their wives and proceeded to hit on Jo. Oh, brother…
Venice was one hell of an experience! And even though there are many locals protesting tourists crowding the city, we never felt unwelcome at all while we were there. Everyone was so, so kind and helpful.
TOP TIP: Skip the Rialto Bridge. Looks cool in photos, not so much in real life…and so congested with tourists, you can barely move. Opt for one of the gazillion other cool bridges, pathways, or cafes instead.
* Outside the train station, saying our goodbyes to Venice 🙁
* We decided to take an overnight train this time, the downside being, if traveling with a dog, one must purchase an entire cabin instead of just one space in the cabin. VERY expensive. You’re welcome, Jo.
The upside: You get the whole freakin’ cabin to yourself, a little bottle of Prosecco, and free breakfast!
* Our toilet/shower area
* Settling in for the night. We did not sleep well at all, but what an interesting ride! Especially getting woken up at 2:00 or 3:00 in the morn with officials coming on board to check passports as the train went through Switzerland. That was the first for us!
Up Next: Ireland or Bust!!
Beautiful pictures. Surely the best experience ever. Looked like the weather was nice as well. Thank you for sharing. Lucky girl. Can,t wait to see you!
Hiya’, darlin’! Thank you so much for the lovely comment again, Elaine! THE. BEST. EXPERIENCE. EVER!! Everything was just perfect. The weather was actually really cold, but the skies were sunny n’ clear. We are definitely two lucky gals. 😉 Can’t wait to see you, too, girl!!
WOW Penny and Jo! Have different was that? What a beautiful place! Those costumes were unbelievable. The hotel sounded perfect. And, to be so Penny special was a plus. I can’t wait until Jo turns this into a Penny’s Experience children’s book series.
I love to see people and their furbabies living their dream,! What more could a friend ask for but, to see that?
You two are amazing! Keep it up. There are so many adventures out there!
I know, that was in February. But, do it all while you both can. As usual, I love all the pictures. Stay safe, have fun! Love you and miss you. Hugs, Pat
Riiight?! It was SO different! And I thought I might be a little overwhelmed by everything, but Jo says I did great! She also says I’m spoiled. 😉 Garsh, I would LOVE to have my adventures turned into book. I guess I better get off my ass and make it happen b/c Jo sure isn’t doing anything about it. 😀
Thanks again n’ again for keeping up with our blog and leaving such wonderful comments, Pat – it means so much to us! And we’re so glad you’re enjoying the pictures. Many more great things to come…we braved a rope bridge together in Ireland!!
We’re definitely doing all we can together while I’m still feeling young(ish)! But I am slowing down a bit. Just gotta keep swimming, as Dory says!
Love you bunches, girl! Lots of puppy n’ human love to you…Penny n’ Jo
Hey Penny! Sorry this took so long to get back to you. Very busy these days. Gotta say though, what a fantastic place you two went to. So colorful, beautiful, romantic, and such strange but entertaining individuals. Wish I could have been there to soak it all in. Don’t know how you manage your patience while donning all these outfits though. If I were you, I would have cut and run. Not with a knife though. Too messy 😀 Got to admit though, and no offense, you looked so cute but LMAO when I first so you. Ahh, what you put up with to make Jo happy. The pics were excellent. You taught the Bean well master. So glad you two had a great time. Until your next blog, love you two.
No, no – it’s okay, Gpa…I know you do have a life other than looking at pictures of yours truly all day. 😉 So glad you liked all of them though! Venice was truly magical! Jo misses the people of Italy tremendously; I miss the food. I do have priorities, ya’ know. 😀 We think you would have loved it there! And don’t worry…they even had a Hard Rock Cafe down one of passageways, so all of your burger n’ beer needs would have been met. Hehehe
Had me cracking up at the “cutting n’ running, but not with a knife” remark! 😀 Believe me, I’ve thought about it! Sitting there, being patient or performing tricks like some kind of a circus monkey ain’t my thing! But it’s Jo…and I gotta love her.
Thanks so much for replying, Gpa – we really appreciate it! Will be posting our next adventure shortly, so pay attention, damnit. Haha! Love youuuu!