So Why Are We Even Here?

... because you wanted to come!...

Is how we can sum up our second trip to Venice in close to as many weeks. It was bitter cold, especially overcrowded, and way overpriced due to the fact that Venice is like ground zero for Carnival. Sometimes this kind of crowd can bring a lot of energy to a place... but nothing was explained and everything was confused... everyone going in different directions trying to figure out the absolute worst map/brochure combination I've ever seen in my life... and in the confusion we had to battle through this mass of people on extremely narrow streets...
...The main palace that looked so cool and was the reason I wanted to come back in the first place turned out not to be as cool from the inside. The art-work that the gondola driver said we HAD to see was really nothing at all, or if it was it wasn't explained...

... This is what I did learn... Venezians are zealous about their independence and thus they chose St Mark, represented by a lion, as their patron saint... as I guess he was independent from the powers of Rome as well as the East... (they got rid of their previous Grecian saint (who had slain a dragon) when they became independent as a testament to this)... and therefore perfect... his remains were even stolen from Alexandria and brought to Venice in accordance with their belief that when he shipwrecked on the lagoon an angel welcomed him and said 'greetings Mark, this is where your body will find rest' (in whatever language Mark spoke at the time)... and so the Venetians decided to self-fulfill their own interpretation of this prophecy... but anyways... now the Venetian flag as well as most metaphorical artwork about Venice have a huge lion...

... And even in the turmoil the two things I couldn't help but like were... first... the tour took you through the how the rulers in Venice got and maintained power... the handout to the plebs in the grand hall of congress where all Venezians were able to accept or reject the appointment of the new Doge and feel as if they could keep in check all other workings in the government... the inner workings of the 300 seat senate entrusted with daily matters, only to be held by noblemen... the more ancient of the senators presiding as one of the 30 judges dealing with political prisoners... the even more private workings of the 10 person committee to expadite important matters bogged up in the senate... to the even more private 3 person council to watch over the 10... and lastly the 2 person sensory board that was supposed to be a last safety valve and watch these watchers...
... and then moving over into the armory, where Venice actually boasted quite a substantial military presence along the Adriatic for centuries... and yet prevented military coups by the fact that no citizen of Venice could have more than 25 soldiers under their command...
... and lastly walking over to the prisons on the 'Bridge of Sighs'... the final say on political unrest... (with scrawlings on the wall preserved for some of their most famous prisoners)... even now it gives a sense of despair and hopelessness... a direct route from the chambers of the 30 judges... yet running through a possible detour and the committee of 10 where your sentence could be overturned...
... the balance of power was so fine that Venice was able to avoid coups through all its centuries of history that so many other city-states fell victim to...
... Being in these same walls that were the lifeblood to a city as well as for some time an empire can inspire some little sense of awe... from a historian... with enough imagination...

... Secondly I liked what art they did show in these areas... most of the art was either portraits of doges... but there were myths about gods and goddesses... biblical scenes and prophets... and my favorite... depictions of ancient battles... My favorite depicted a massive army trying to make it across the water on huge rafts (held up by barrels) to attack the city... the Venizians are shown swimming underwater to the rafts and cutting the ropes holding the barrels in place and sinking the rafts... the soldiers on the rafts... in full armour... can do nothing but wait to drown...