Day 166/365 - Oh Noes!

For this week's self-portrait we have documentary proof of me being forced to amuse myself due to the fact that my cable is out. I look like an African tribal version of Mr. Bill here. I ordered this mask from a catalog years and years ago and I think it came from Ghana, but I can't remember for sure. It looks cool hanging on the wall but it sucks as an actual mask because, unless you have a hammerhead shark somewhere in your family tree, the eyeholes are wayyyyyyy too far apart.

Getting back to my lack of cable miseries, apparently the line running to my apartment has been cut somewhere. The cable was out when I woke up yesterday morning and when I called it in they scheduled to have a technician come by this afternoon. Perfect, not a prob. My boss is really cool and understanding so I just went into the office this morning, picked up some files, and told him I'd be working at home.

So then the technician comes, plugs a monitoring device into my cable socket, and then tells me the line has been cut somewhere and there's no signal coming to my apartment. Yeah, I kinda figured out that last part for myself when both my tv sets had black screens. Unfortunately, wiring issues are handled by people in another division so there's nothing he can do but report it to HQ and then they'll send the wiring folks to look into it and they'll be in contact to schedule a convenient time for me if they need to enter my apartment, yadda, yadda, yadda.

Thanks, Comcast!

In fairness, the technician guy was on time and he was really nice and he apologized for the fact that I'd basically stayed home for nothing. I think I'd have felt better if he'd been late and been obnoxious. Then I could've vented my spleen on him.

So in the meanwhile I'm stuck with no cable and no one to really be mad at, apart from the mysterious saboteur who apparently cut or unplugged the cable line somewhere between where it enters the building on the roof and where it reaches my apartment ten floors later.

Oh well, at least I'll be able to watch tonight's episode of '24' on-line. Assuming the DSL doesn't suddenly go out as well, anyhow.

(Taken with my Nikon Coolpix S200)

Twice on Sunday Bonus Photo - Carnevale Trio

This week's bonus photo from my archives is a shot I took on my recent trip to Venice of three costumed revelers celebrating Carnevale in the Piazzo San Marco. Carnevale in Venice is definitely more refined than Mardi Gras in New Orleans.

(Taken with my Nikon D80)

Day 138/365 - Carnival in Venice

I'm in Venice! Yaaaayyyy! After dreaming about it for years I'm finally here. Switching planes in London was a hassle (moving between terminals, having to go through a security screening again, staring at a status board for 40 minutes waiting for them to assign my flight to a gate, etc.) but all the travail involved in getting here was worth it.

I'm here until next Sunday. There wasn't much time for sightseeing today. By the time I got to my hotel it was after 4:00. I could have gotten to the hotel more quickly if I'd taken the bus from the airport, but I wanted to enter Venice from the water. It just seemed more fitting that way. Plus the cost of the vaporetto (water bus) from the airport was included in the price of the Venice card I bought, so it was even economically sensible. I had to change vaporettos at St. Marks though and being on that boat full of tourists and locals with my suitcase and backpack was no picnic.

My hotel is great. It's just a short distance from the vaporetto stop near the train station. It's a small place, only 50 rooms. It used to be an abbey before it was converted to a hotel. The room isn't very big (it was formerly a monk's cell after all), but it's perfect for me. So far the only downside to staying here are the bells from the nearby church that ring for about a minute straight at 6:15 and 7:15 each morning. Oh well, at least I don't have to worry about a wake-up call.

The first two days I'm here in Venice coincide with Carnevale, so after I got unpacked and freshened up I trundled off to the mask makers fair in Campo St. Stefano to buy myself a mask. I could've picked up a cheap cardboard and plastic, mass-produced, made in China mask from any one of the many stalls in town selling trinkets to tourist, but I wanted the real thing. The one I bought is a hand-made Arlecchino (harlequin) mask made of leather. It only cost me 18 euros and I'm pretty happy with it, although it does make it hard to see down and forget about peripheral vision.

But who cares about that? It's Venice, it's carnival, and I'm here!

(Taken with my Nikon Coolpix S200)