In Venice, masks have been worn for centuries as a form of disguise during Carnival. Venice masks are typically made from Paper-Mache and come in various shapes and sizes. Some Venice masks even have moving parts, such as the mouth, which allows the wearer to speak without others being able to see their mouth.
The history of Venice masks can be traced back to the 12th century when they were first used to conceal the wearers’ identity. In Venice, you can see beautiful Venetian masks as a symbol of status and power, and merchants and nobles often wore them during Carnival. Venice masks were also used as a tool for social satire and were often decorated with elaborate designs and ribbons.
In the 19th century, Venice masks began to decline in popularity as other forms of entertainment became more popular. However, Venice masks experienced a resurgence in popularity in the 20th century, thanks partly to the work of artists like Dario Argento and Commedia dell’arte. Today, Venice masks are considered a symbol of Venice and its culture and are often seen as works of art in their own right.
How Venice Masks Are Made
The Venice masks are some of the most intricately made and beautiful masks in the world. They are often made of paper-mâché, although other materials such as plastic, glass, and metal are sometimes used. The process of making a Venice mask is a long and intricate one.
The first step is to create the mold for the mask. This can be done using various materials, such as plaster, clay, or wax. Once the mold is created, it is filled with a paper-mâché mixture made from water, flour, and white glue. The mask maker must be very careful to ensure no air bubbles in the mixture, as these will cause the mask to burst when it dries.
After the mask has been dipped in the mixture, it is left to dry. This can take several days, depending on the size and complexity of the mask. Once it is dry, it is then sanded down and painted. The paint can be either acrylic or oil-based. Finally, a sealant is applied to protect the paint from fading or chipping.
Making a Venice mask takes a great deal of skill and talent. The finished product is always a work of art that captures the beauty and essence of Venice itself.
The Modern Twist On Venice Masks
The modern twist on Venice masks is that they are no longer just reserved for the Carnival of Venice. In recent years, Venice masks have become popular among fashion designers and artists who see them as a way to add a touch of Venetian glamour to their work. There is now a subculture of people who love Venice masks for their beauty and versatility and enjoy incorporating them into all aspects of their lives.
Whether you’re attending the Carnival of Venice or just looking for an interesting piece of art to hang on your wall, Venice masks are worth checking out. With their mix of tradition and innovation, they offer something truly unique and special for everyone.
Wait, what? There are camels? Yes, well, technically they are dromedaries, but a dromedary is also known as a one-humped camel.
Waves crashing against the craggy coast, mist drifting up mountains that rise abruptly from the sea, bridges impossibly clinging to cliffs — we’d seen the iconic photos of the 
Proboscises and slobber fly as the giant bulls bash their calloused necks against each other in an effort to drive away their rivals.
Driving toward the rim we couldn’t help but think about what early settlers rolling across the smooth, open prairie in their covered wagons must have though when they hit the edge. “This is too easy, nothin’ to it. We’ll be in Caiforn… Holy $#*%!!!! What in the Sam Hill is this?”
Even in the fall it can still be pretty hot, so we spent most of our time driving the miles of roads that took us over the edge and down the slope of the canyon wall then in a loop along the floor.
The other took us to a stone that natives had used for grinding roots, mesquite beans, and various seeds for food.
Soon after that we encountered a good sized flock of wild turkeys. With the heat and lack of water, these were the only wildlife we saw all day, but we guess that they would have made a fine meal too.
From there we got a long distance view of the park’s most famous landmark, Lighthouse Rock, which made us feel okay about skipping the six mile trail that would have given us a close up view. With that, we felt that we had done a pretty good job seeing most of the sights.
Feldman’s Wrong Way Diner was fun, with model trains circling the ceiling, but our favorite for both the food and its unique combination had to be Pepito’s Mexican Restaurante & Auto Sales.
