European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - February 03, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse Festivities in italian City resemble a bizarre fashion pensive poses Are the order of the Day. By Cruger Northern Italy Bureau one of the most bizarre free shows on Earth takes place in Venice during Carneval the Sodden City s last Binge before the sobriety of Lent during that time posers and poseurs voyeurs and exhibitionists plus High tides of tourists flood Italy s most romantic City. Venice s Carnevale this year taking place feb. 5-15, is a strange wonderful sort of free form affair that was revived by the City s government in the late 1970s after having been abandoned for centuries because of its excesses. Carnev Aleonce raged so wildly in Venice that by the 18th Century the season of masked mania stretched six months and was staged largely to pull in tourist dollars. This year Carnevale s attractions mostly take place during the first saturday and sunday of february and on the following weekend continuing right through the. Night of shrove tuesday feb. 15. The vastness of St. Mark s Square serves As Carnevale s main venue. Posers and poseurs flock Here from All Over Europe to show off their masks and costumes some truly works of Art they have spent hundreds of hours designing and fashioning. All around the Square figures pose As Aztec gods Wood nymphs beasts jesters courtesans the transvestism is outrageous gargoyles or sultans accompanied by huge retinue. The figures wait for someone to take their picture. Anyone will do but for an obvious professional who might be Selling to magazines or the poster and postcard companies the figures oblige with dead stillness. Other figures always obliging can be found elsewhere in any of the City s principal squares. On Carnevale sundays As Many As 100,000 revellers flock into Venice population about 75,000. So great is the crush that it can take a pedestrian 15 minutes to Cross a Bridge or squeeze through a tube like Alley. The revellers always appear to be Good natured and surprisingly sober. Aside from some Swank private Cost Jmie balls there seems to be Little partying going on during Calneva a in Venice. The sole object of attending this affair seems to be to see and to be seen. Gondolas traditionally close the carnival with a silent regatta along the grand canal at Midnight on shrove tuesday. Travellers tips How to get there go by train if at All possible. Venice s parking garages May be full on the most popular Carnevale Days and they certainly will charge shocking prices. Best bet is to find a parking spot in one of the outlying cities such As Mestre and to take one of the frequent trains into Venice. What to buy Carnevale has spawned an entire souvenir Industry including Graceful masks and Beautiful posters. What to see Venice also stages a number of free plays and concerts at various open air venues during Carnevale. J. Kin Cruger i v � s i i r people of All Ages get in the party mood with costumes ranging from simple to intricate. Is photos by j. King Cruger 14 stripes Magazine february 3, 1994 february 3, 1994 stripes Magazine 75
