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Invitation: Venice Carnivale (Venuto Carnevale)

Join a group of friends and me in our own private villa for the incredible Venice Carnivale in February, 2020!

Image result for venice carnival 2020

The entire 2020 Venice Carnival will begin on Saturday, February 8 and ends on Tuesday, February 25.  Over the course of the event, there is an abundance of activities from free to very expensive:

Here are the details for our very own private Venice Carnevale experience:

Dates:

Arriving Sunday February 16th, departing Monday February 24th – please note I will be there for the entire week, however some friends are only able to make it from Wednesday 19th to Monday 24th.

Accommodation:

We have our own private villa – all to ourselves!  It is on the Riviera del Brenta, about 30 minutes from Venice.

You can read more about our villa and view lots of photos here:  http://luxuriousnomad.com/my-italian-villa-on-the-riveria-del-brenta/

Villa Ducale

Airport Transfers

Flying into Venice Airport, the villa will arrange transfers for everyone.

Costumes

If you look at the links to the events pages, you will see the type of costumes everyone will be wearing.
  • If you don’t want to invest in your own costume, the villa has ones you may rent.

Itinerary

This is essentially just a group of friends gathering together around a central event and while these are suggested activities, feel free to do your own thing if you like!

——-

SUNDAY 16TH:
  • Arrival – dinner at the villa (in costume if you have it)
MONDAY 17TH:
TUESDAY 18TH:
  • Road trip – destination yet to be decided OR feel free to head in to Venice to explore on your own (https://venice-carnival-italy.com/events-calendar/)
  • Dinner – no fixed plans – there are ample places nearby to eat (the villa restaurant is closed Tuesdays)
WEDNESDAY 19TH:
THURSDAY 20TH:
FRIDAY 21ST:
SATURDAY 22ND:

DINNER CRUISE EVENT DETAILS

After a toast with our crew on board, the Galleon will slowly start sailing towards the northern part of the Venetian lagoon Sailing past the islands of Murano, Burano and Torcello and offering a charming panoramic views, whilst on board you can taste the Great Carnival buffet with all specialties prepared with care by our Venetian Chef and then the party

A not-to-be-missed appointment on board a true Venetian Galleon, enjoy an exclusive evening on board of great food, music and lots of fun during Venice Carnival!
After a toast with our crew on board, the Galleon will slowly start sailing towards the northern part of the Venetian lagoon.
Sailing past the most important Islands of Venetian Lagoon Murano, Burano and Torcello enjoy the charming panoramic views whilst on board.
You can taste the Great Carnival buffet with all the specialties prepared with care by our Venetian Chef. In the meanwhile our live band will liven up the evening with great songs and music.
After dinner we will head towards Venice and make a toast in front of magnificent Saint Mark’s square, capturing the magic and elegance of the most ancient Carnival of the world celebrating together Venice Carnival whilst dancing to the all the latest hits.
On board we will continue the party with Carnival trumpets, streamers, and traditional Venetian desserts like Frittelli and Galani.
It’s a wonderful fun evening from the beginning and until the moment you disembark.

Program:

h. 20:00
Embarkation of guests in Venice – Naval Museum. Welcome aperitif while sailing into Saint Mark’s basin.
h. 20:30
Start buffet dinner while sailing to the northern parts of the lagoon: Murano, Burano and Torcello…
h. 22:00 ca.
At the end of dinner, toast in front of Saint Mark’s square
h. 00:00
Disembarkation of guests in Venice – Naval Museum

*Price per person: € 110,00
SUNDAY 23RD:
MONDAY 24TH:
  • Depart

Accommodation Cost

The villa has been wonderful and arranged a very special low rate for us:

  • DOUBLE ROOM for 1 Person – €70.00 per night
  • DOUBLE ROOM for 2 Persons – €120.00 per night (€60.00 per night per person)
  • JUNIOR SUITE (only 1 available) for 3 Persons – €140.00 per night (€47.00 per night per person)
  • FAMILY SUITE (only 1 available) for 4 Persons – €180.00 per night (€45.00 per night per person)

Event Cost

The only event we have booked together as a group is the dinner cruise and that is €110.00 per person – and please note, must be booked separately (as listed above).

Apart from that, feel free to do as many or as little events as you choose!

…and as for the road trips, obviously my rental car will only accommodate so many people – so it will depend on who would also like to rent a car and we can convoy to some glorious places through that part of Italy!

How to book?

Chances are if we have already discussed that, your room is already booked – and if not, please contact me immediately.

I have secured the entire villa for us, however you will need to give the villa a deposit to confirm and secure your room.

Please email Irene at Villa Ducale info@villaducale.it and she will arrange to take the deposit.

See you in February!

~ Bella

 

Concours of Elegance at Hampton Court Palace, September 2019

Having arrived a little too early to check into my room here in the magnificent Rubens Hotel in London, I decided to have lunch in their glorious Old English Grill…

…and when I did arrive in my room – how heavenly!

…with a view of the Royal Mews from my window.

First thing the next morning I met up with my friend Susan and we headed off to Hampton Court Palace for the extraordinary Concours of Elegance…

Driving through the park at Hampton Court, one can easily imagine King Henry VIII riding through the grounds…  Simply stunning…

We even had our own escort to take us through the maze to the Concours…

…and on the other side of those beautiful gates……..  Magnificence of motoring history!

The Concours of Elegance brings together a selection of the rarest cars from around the world – many of which will never have been seen before in the UK.

Just a man talking with a dragon…

This little girl was soooooo cute – her name is Isabelle…

I like this – the owner’s name is the wife – and the drivers – if she let’s them – are the husband and son!

Procession over, time for champagne and lunch with the owners, officials etc – VIP all the way, of course!

 

“honi soit qui mal y pense” – the motto of the British chivalric Order of the Garter. It is translated as “Evil be to one who evil thinks”.

…and time now to explore some of the palace…

~ Bella

Milton Keynes Museum 1940s weekend

What a lovely way to spend a couple of hours…  A wonderful group of volunteers works tirelessly all year to pull together this annual event, honouring and celebrating those who fought in and lived through WWII, and ‘kept the home fires burning’…

~ Bella

Royal Enclosure at Royal Ascot

Another item checked off my rather extensive bucket list – attending Royal Ascot, in the Royal Enclosure nonetheless, thanks to an invitation from my dear friend, Noreen.

It was a glorious day, but I will let the photos tell the story…

~ Bella

Royal Order of the Garter Service at Windsor Castle

“In medieval times, King Edward III was so inspired by tales of King Arthur and the chivalry of the Knights of the Round Table that he set up his own group of honourable knights, called the Order of the Garter. Nearly 700 years later, the Order is the oldest and most senior Order of Chivalry in Britain. The Knights, now both male and female, used to be limited to aristocracy, but today they are chosen from a variety of backgrounds, in recognition for their public service.

The annual iconic Garter Day procession, where The Queen and the Knights process in grand velvet robes, glistening insignia and plumed hats, is one of the most traditional ceremonies in the Queen’s calendar.

Every June, a grand procession of the knights takes place at Windsor Castle, accompanied by a marching band and Officers of the Order, all in grand ceremonial dress.”  https://www.royal.uk/order-garter

 

Mille Miglia historic car race (post 1 of 2)

The Mille Miglia (mille = 1000, miglia = mile) was an open-road, motorsport endurance race established in 1927 by the young Counts Aymo Maggi and Franco Mazzotti, which took place in Italy twenty-four times from 1927 to 1957.

Now, it is not a ‘race’ as such but more of a time-trial and only vehicles that either raced in this event between 1927 and 1957, or vehicles that are the identical specifications to ones that did, may enter.

 

…but first catching some ducks breaking and entering…

OK, you lot…  line up…

…continued…

Wonderful Scottish Birthday (post 3 of 3)

…continued…

…and we even had a real-life pipe major give us instruction on the bagpipes…

…and two rainbows on the way home…

…to have such wonderful friends…  I am so very, very blessed…

“There is nothing I wouldn’t do for those who are really my friends. I have no notion of loving people by halves; it is not my nature.” – Jane Austen, ‘Northanger Abbey’

~ Bella