Remembering Venice, like a page out of an old fairy tale book...this is my photography teacher Florine Houée and our dear friend Isabelle Rombi at the Venice Carevale 2020...
The medieval city of Venice, with its cobblestone pathways, fabulous canals and many bridges - this is certainly one of the most beautiful and unique cities in the world. Add to this some of the best museums, shops and restaurants in the world.
I have been coming here every year since 2013. I like to come here most during Carnevale, because weather wise, I have an intolerance for hot temperatures. The Carnival of Venice is an annual festival held in Venice, Italy. The carnival ends with the Christian celebration of Lent, forty days before Easter, on Shrove Tuesday (Martedì Grasso or Mardi Gras), the day before Ash Wednesday. The festival is world-famous for its elaborate masks.
The Carnival of Venice is also a great celebration of fantasy and creativity. I have many friends who spend months if not years on their very spectacular and often outrageous costumes and masks.
I meet my costumed models and photographer friends here every year, and usually I stay for at least 2 to 3 weeks, so I tend to do all my annual shopping here as well. There's always lots of walking - I'm probably out in the streets at least 12 hours a day, doing photography for my model friends, attending secret parties, eating at the best restaurants and of course all the secret meetings at my Mystery Hotel. Sometimes I assist in a photo workshop or 2 if I can find the time to do so. Plenty of fun in amid all the hustle and bustle and glimmering and shimmering of water...
What you see in most of my pictures are actual happenings during my travels. People say, all my trips have this fairy tale element to it - Belgium, Bhutan, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Japan and of course Venice...that's because all my travel itineraries are carefully researched and I get to hang out with all the world's most beautiful people.... Many people adore myths, legends and lore in books, comics and films, but for me I live the real thing....
As I have said many times before, I take my travels very seriously...
Every travel needs to be what it is to be in a dream...a beautiful wanderlust...just like a scene out of the movies...
After all, life is all about what we allow ourselves to see, what we allow ourselves to have...
Sadly, with the pandemic and all its travel restrictions, there will not be a Venice Carnevale in 2021, and maybe not even 2022 but I am sure things will start again when the crisis is more settled. But at least I have some of the most memorable travel pictures in history - they are the best souvenirs for me and all the wonderful people I have met in my fabulous adventures.
