A couple of weeks ago, I went to the British Museum in London with a companion. Amongst all this history and incredible examples of international cultures, all I could take pictures of were some plates, a few pieces of Chinese crockery, a board game, and, erm, something unidentifiable at this juncture. You think I'm joking? I am, but if you think I'm lying, then I posted some evidence below to show I'm not.

It looks like the runway for some fleas, or possibly a great place for ants to have a marketplace, but actually, it's neither of these. It's... something else. Shocking, I know. 

A large Chinese vase from a long, long time ago. If you came here for technical details of this stuff, I hope you've learnt your lesson. 

An old Chinese, erm, object, looking much prettier with the effect of lacquer. Whatever it is. (I tried to find out, but couldn't, even after reading about it. There's always a first). 

Lacquer, whatever it is, does create a wonderful effect for any material. 

Board games based on mathematicians have always been a favourite of mine, though I never realised this as I never saw one until I saw this. 

These plates look are very similar to the ones at home, but -- crucial difference! -- they're not ours. They're copies that are much older. Goddamn pirates. 

A tree looking not just tree-like, but snowy-tree-like, which is much more life-affirming. 

Yet Another Picture of Snow and Things Covered in It. Yes. 

Snow picture 4.5 [minimal boringness avoidance strategy activated] 

Snow picture 3 

Snow picture 2 

Snow picture 1 

A melancholy, thoughtful, Pulitzer-prize-winning photo of the bus ride away from the Venetian Republic's capital... damnit, I've forgotten what it's called. Ah, yes, that's right: Venezia! Bella, bella! 

Apparently, this is the apparatus for the local electioneering. Don't ask, because I don't know. Obviously. Some blog-readers nowadays... Not like the good ol' days when they had to be done on typewriters. 

A boat! 

Two ACTs (maybe [perhaps]). 

The local well. 

Another flipping bridge. 

How the Venetian plebs live 180 degrees away. 

How the Venetian plebs live. 

Minaret / beautiful alien communication tower (ACT). 

Venice street. 

Curious shop window. 

Italians walking lemmingly into a poisonous blue log-monster [I had to stop being boring some time]. 

Some nice building. 

Last week I had the privilege of going to Italy for a few days all expenses paid (including some much-needed beers and grappas). It was worth it even including the number of boring speeches I had to go through to reach those beers, the satisfying Italian dinners, or the opportunity to swim in the hotel's outdoor heated pool in the snow. Best of all, by landing in Venice (after a transfer at Milan, lucky me), I could spend a couple of hours there wondering around. I had planned to perhaps go to the ghetto [which was the first one in the world, Jew-baiting fans], or even, if I was fast, to the centre. Instead, I went the wrong way, and ended up in a residential section, carting around my heavy bag across my shoulder. The pain was tempered though by the exquisite beauty of the place, which wasn't any the less for not being touristed (and probably was actually better for it). To prove I was actually there, I should really post some pictures of it. Luckily, I have some in the required digital format, so I share them with you, the world, and my future employer in the marketing industry, as well as some shots of snow-covered Italiana from my hotel balcony. 

A bridge.