When you hear about processions on the Grand Canal,
you might expect serious things.
You might expect traditional pomp and circumstance.
but when it comes to Carneval, you would be surprised.
Recently a bunch of crazy Venetians (the very best kind)
got together, dressed themselves up, and rowed their various craft
down the Canalazzo - to the thrill and encouragement of a multitude of onlookers. All in clear but rather cold conditions.
I've included the video clip here, but I recommend going to this link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oX-JQEX48NI&feature=youtu.be
and bringing it up to full screen.
I've watched it all the way through several times,
and there are lots of fun things worth pointing out.
All views are from the GSVVM batela (themed out this year as “the Mickey Mouse boat” for fairly obvious reasons)
It doesn’t happen very often, but now and then they actually
shut down the Grand Canal for an event.
In this case it was for the rowing procession of clubs - all dressed up in some sort of costume or
other.
Here's my play-by-play.
quite likely you will find other fun stuff as you watch.
Time details
00:56 Holstein cow
rows in sestina.
01:10 The big red
and white peata “The Brentana” makes her entrance.
We’ve looked at this huge boat before in the post That "Big Boat from Brenta"
01:33 Someone’s got
pink hair. Wait, they ALL have pink hair!
01:47 Spongebob
theme? Oh yeah! No wait…those guys are actually dressed as sections of the Mose
floating tide barrier system. Original,
but I would have gone with Spongebob.
01:56 Accademia
Bridge appears to be masked for restoration.
02:15 Vaporetto
stops make good viewing platforms.
03:01 Look! Escaped
prisoners!
03:40 Vaporetto
vessel leaning hard to port.
04:50 Sumo sighted
on a sandolo.
05:20 Rialto Bridge
comes into view.
At some point the band, DJ, or some dude with a sound system
on the big peata came into earshot.
05:50 Passing under
Rialto.
06:10 Everybody
sings a familiar song.
08:15 “Pope, Ohe!”
10:14 The
procession enters the Cannaregio Canal,
rowing towards the Tre Archi Bridge.
10:33 Things are
getting cramped!
11:22 Now THAT’S a
crowd.
And MAN does that guy have a fancy outfit.
12:38 The Phantoms
of the Opera
13:10 Yes, that IS
a huge rat.
14:13 Balloon
release!
Big thanks to Nereo Zane for giving us a front-row seat to this fun and unusual tradition in Venezia.
In case you'd forgotten what Nereo looks like,
I've included a very recent photo of him here:
Big thanks to Nereo Zane for giving us a front-row seat to this fun and unusual tradition in Venezia.
In case you'd forgotten what Nereo looks like,
I've included a very recent photo of him here:
Oh yeah.
He definitely pulled off the Mickey look.
He definitely pulled off the Mickey look.
Drawn-on whiskers and all.
I don't think I could have rocked that look as well as he did.
I don't think I could have rocked that look as well as he did.
1 comment:
Dear Greg, thank you so much for the great post. Really amazing the timed descriptions. I've to admit that I missed some of the details you noted. Hugs, Nereo
Post a Comment