18th + 19th Feb: Ponta di Legno, aka Bridge of Wood aka Montagne.
My host-family owns a cute little cottage up in the mountains 2 hours from Bergamo, and considering my Venice trip was (unfairly) revoked by Mangina aka Voldemanci, they took me up there for the weekend. Due to many a reason, I did not ski (those who know my history with serious injury will perhaps think that this is a good idea...) So I read, and studied Italian, ate, took the ski lift up with my amazing host-sister, and admired the snow-covered mountains with my eyes and my camera lens.
22nd Feb: Clusone Carnivale
A Carnevale Ogni Scherzo Vale... (Anything goes at Carnevale...)
I keep going to these Carnevale celebrations, and people keep asking what it actually celebrates... so here is an internet definition: "Carnevale, also known as carnival or mardi gras, is celebrated in Italy and many places around the world 40 days before Easter, a final party before Ash Wednesday and the restrictions of Lent." (http://goitaly.about.com/od/festivalsandevents/a/carnevale.htm)
Basically, people wear masks and throw confetti and spray each other with silly string and shaving cream. There are generally big parades that are super-well coordinated with floats and music and dances... the event attracts whole cities to join or to stand and watch.
Exchange students, however, do not simply "stand and watch". No. This is not in our nature. Exchange students get dressed up and travel hours to go to a parade where they know absolutely no-one where they can make absolute (sober ;) ) fools of themselves. So, we did.
Some of the floats: Mario (Italians fucking LOVE Mario), ducks, pajama party, Greek Gods, hippies, lords and dames, various countries, smurfs (in Italian, i puffy - I have NO idea why), stone-age era...the list continues...
Not only does Clusone have an awesome Carnevale parade, but it is also a superquaint and photogenic little town.
We ventured for a walk around and found this: Piazza d'Oroglio. The clockface's numbers go backwards, and the hands move anti-clockwise. Italians - what can you do.
Seeing the fences that were erected in this piazza, i sillily (sillily? like, silly... but an adverb) assumed that was where the parade would start. (I was mistaken.) After dashing around asking for directions, we were told "Sinistra, e giú
...giiiiiiúúúúú"
Now for those that do not know how to pronounce Italian, the word "giú" (down) is pronounced "Jew."
Now for those that do not know how to pronounce Italian, the word "giú" (down) is pronounced "Jew."
My friend told me a story that captures my reaction to this word: He once saw a man shouting at his dog "JEW! JEW" and thought he was being anti-semitic. He was, just in fact, telling his dog to get down.
That is Clusone.
24th + 25th Feb: Ecco! Lecco!
My (then, not yet met) friend, Carson, invited me to join her for Lecco's carnevale celebration over the weekend. Lecco is known for its beautiful lake, il lago bello, but when I caught a glimpse of it from the train window I was gobsmacked - there are beauties in Italy that cannot actually be described, and photos cannot do them justice.
We met up with a couple of exchangies, did the parade, wore ridiculous (I say RIDICALUS) outfits, and then, at night, joined a street party in a piazza - there was a DJ and lazers and lights and smoke machines: and everyone in their costumes just made it an awesome experience.
An amazing weekend, with some amazing people.
When speaking to my friends back home a few weeks ago, it was always, "I can't wait to see you."
Now, it is "I can't wait to see you and introduce you to all these famazing [no typo] people."
On that note, it seems like my 3 month summer holiday plans are coming together quite nicely. A little visit from Daniel Wulfsohn, a little get-away with my favourite twin, Helene, and her brother. (JOKING. Calm the hell down, Michel), some plans with besti Gabriella Nadine, some London, some Croatia... let's see what else I can get away with...
Anybody up for a visit? :)
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