My Very Own Crumb of Disappointment

So... Regatta Storica.
The big boat race on the grand canal in Venice. This is a huge deal. There are four different divisions to compete in. The races start with a procession of all the boats plus bunches of non-competing boats. These are all gondolas or really really long versions of gondolas.
We decided to have a party in honor of this big event. We invited our professors and their families, a few close Venetian friends of ours, etc etc. We made a nice spread of food (the most delicious cheesecake from Karen, and oh do I love Asiago cheese on a little round piece of toast... spinach and artichoke dip made with six thousand substitutes... mmm). And people began to show up for the festivities. We watched out the windows facing the canal, and on the tiny strip of patio we had. In fact, we even climbed onto the roof of the Guggenheim's courtyard next door so we could have more room to watch from. It worked rather well and they didn't get upset with us at all.
Anyway, so all of a sudden, I'm eating a little something and looking out the window... (This is before the race starts) I look down, and Ana is on one of the really long gondolas. The rowers (rowers?!) are holding out their hands to walk her along the boat. There was a rather attractive Venetian boy who held her hand for an extra moment. Too cute. And someone took her picture. This proceeded to be a huge event as several of the girls felt it necessary to have the same experience of getting on this competing boat and walking around. haha. So I'm sure it was slightly annoying for the (24 I think) rowers, but whatever.
So there was that bit of excitement. Then we all get settled on the roof and patio and whatnot, looking out the windows, whatever. And the procession starts. That was pretty cool. The boats were decked out in all sorts of finery. The bows of them had ornate lions, mermaids, horses, etc etc. Gold and silver and all manner of beautiful (or tacky, if you're me) things. Each boat had a color theme. It was all very coordinated and important looking. (I took pictures, which I will put up online somewhere and link to them here.)
Anyway. Thirty minutes after the procession (an incredibly boring thirty minutes) the first race started and we saw about two minutes of it as it passed our house. Then we waited another thirty minutes or so until the second race started. And so on and so forth. It was rather boring and uneventful and we didn't even know who won.
Sigh. I lost interest after the second race and went to my room to buzz around randomly. Then I caught the third race from my window before going to the kitchen to help clean up. I missed the final race because I was falling asleep on my bed. And I proceeded to take a nap quickly thereafter. A 2 and a half hour nap. hehe. At six in the evening. And now I'm tired again. So I guess it didn't hurt.
I got gelato again tonight. I think it's becoming an every night deal with me. That's not the best habit to get into, especially when Roberta (our house assistant) has yet to find me dance classes in Venice and not in Mestre. Until next time, in boco di lupo! (Good luck, literally in the mouth of the wolf)