AtDTdA: (9) 255

[Jasper]

255 The Chums in Venice (continued)

Page 255:
Arsenale
The Venetian Arsenal (Italian: Arsenale di Venezia) is a shipyard and 
naval depot that played a leading role in Venetian empire-building. It 
was one of the most important areas of Venice, lying in the Castello 
sestiere.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arsenale

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Mostruccio
Literally small monster, meant as a lovely nickname
*wiki*

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Pugnax also dreamed of release
Mostruccio dreams of flying, Pugnax of running

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Samoyeds
These nomadic reindeer herders help with the herding, pull sleds, and 
are sometimes called "the smiley dog" in reference to their seemingly 
smiling faces.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samoyed_(dog)
*wiki*

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Florian and Quadri
Two famous cafes in the Piazza San Marco, much beloved by lazy poets, 
wacko composers, and expatriot novelists who would yawn through 
breakfast in Caffè Florian, then stagger across the piazza to drink 
lunch at Caffè Quadri.  Pynchon ignores Caffè Lavena, which would be 
stop number three.

During the Austrian occupation of 1814-66 the coffee houses were drawn 
into the social warfare between the city's two hostile camps. 
Establishments used by the occupying troops were shunned by all 
patriotic Venetians - Quadri became an Austrian coffee house, whereas 
Florian remained Venetian. Certain prominent Venetians even went to the 
length of shunning the Piazza whenever the Austrian band was playing, a 
policy that entailed a thrice-weekly withdrawal from the centre of the city.

http://www.travelotica.com/travelguide/36071/italy/venice/piazza-san-marco-36377.htm
http://www.quadrivenice.com/
http://www.caffeflorian.com/

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Francophile
A Francophile is a non-French person who has a strong interest in, or 
admiration for French culture.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francophile

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Bastille Day
The Campanile di San Marco collapsed 14 July 1902. Pynchon Wiki on the 
Campanile:
http://against-the-day.pynchonwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=Campanile
*wiki*

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the pigeons
St. Mark's is famous for its large and annoying pigeon population.

http://photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00HJSx
http://z.about.com/d/cruises/1/0/0/B/2/venice032.jpg
http://www.photo.net/photo/pcd0802/venice-father-son-pigeons-35.3.jpg
http://www.bahnij.com/images/Italy/Venice/Venice_Rob_Pigeons_DCP_0467.jpg

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"quite unavailable to any official aircraft of the time"
More anachronistic tech for the Chums.

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the Campanile came down
On July 14, 1902, the campanile collapsed completely, also demolishing 
the logetta. Remarkably no one was killed, except for the caretaker's cat.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Mark%27s_Campanile
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:CROLLO1.jpg

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lasagnoni
Lasagnone = blowhard, braggart

A hint may come from an Italian dictionary: a lasagnone being an 
awkward, simple person, the kind of loafers who abound on city squares 
or street corners and which, consequently, may appear on tourists' pictures.
*wiki*