I went to the Carnevale parade at Viareggio on Sunday. It is an amazing spectacle. The floats are incredible and I have taken lots of photos, far too many for one post. I’m going to start with the audience, because people put in a fair bit of effort just to attend. Italians love to dress up and wander about admiring each other. I saw some outstanding costumes, but it was difficult to photograph some of them as it was very crowded and people were on the move. I hope you like the ones I was able to capture on film. These were not necessarily the best, but they were the ones standing still long enough to be photographed.
little red riding hood - number 1
not afraid to look silly
off to join the gang
off the rack at the costume shop
not so cheerful red riding hood
it may not be a costume
happy to lose his head
posing with Topolino
nice hair
nice hats
shy Zorro
It is a pity Zorro turned shy, his moustache was very jaunty and his sword handling was fierce. I did ask permission before photographing the children.
a family group
very blue
topical
off duty Superman
Clockwork Orange revisited
they start young
some costumes are not complicated
getting tired
This innocent looking little girl was trying to get me to open my mouth – so she could fill it with silly string. I’m not that silly.
Pepe le Phew and friend
cow and friend
a lovely couple
friends
the family pet is not left out
red riding hood number 3
clowns get hungry too
happy Teletubbies
a family affair
There were thousands of people in the street to watch the parade of floats. There were no barricades along the side of the road to separate people from the huge mobile floats, but there were no accidents. People managed to keep out of the way, even if it was only by centimetres. There were people with children, dogs and even a cat was out with its owner. The crowd was exceptionally well behaved and just out to have a good time. Nobody was drunk or unruly and even though there was lots of jostling for position, it was all done with good humour. People were dancing and singing and enjoying the spirit of the occasion. I was impressed.
The next post will show you some of the incredible floats. I had a few favourites and I will show them in more detail later.
Oh my God, this is great. But you now which one cracks me up the most? The old woman, out of costume, with her purse. She is fantastic. All great. You certainly do get around…how DO you do that?
By: The Daily Cure on March 8, 2011
at 6:32 pm
You should have seen her husband. He wandered off and I missed him. Viareggio is only about 1 hour from here.
By: bagnidilucca on March 8, 2011
at 8:32 pm
Oh Wow! Such colours! Such thrilling, funny, bizarre, cute costumes! One can’t help feeling cheerful among such company.
By: Reggie on March 8, 2011
at 6:38 pm
It was a lot of fun.
By: bagnidilucca on March 8, 2011
at 8:32 pm
Great work, Debra!!!!
By: eponato on March 8, 2011
at 7:39 pm
Thank you.
By: bagnidilucca on March 8, 2011
at 8:28 pm
Looks fun! Great costumes.
By: mary D on March 8, 2011
at 7:45 pm
Wait until you see the floats.
By: bagnidilucca on March 8, 2011
at 8:28 pm
Debra, fabulous. worth it to attend to enjoy the audience as you did, your pictures have such clarity. Wish you hadn’t found me having a rest and showing my fleshy knees!
By: Roz on March 8, 2011
at 8:24 pm
I didn’t recognise you.
By: bagnidilucca on March 8, 2011
at 8:27 pm
Your posts are my daily therapy -all with different moods. I am having a good belly laugh today. The cans of coke and kids strollers bring it back ro reality – a great contrast. Many thanks.
Helen
By: helen on March 8, 2011
at 9:26 pm
You would have loved it.
By: bagnidilucca on March 8, 2011
at 9:47 pm
Great photo’s and atmosphere. I love Carnivale.! x
By: Yvette on March 8, 2011
at 9:48 pm
It’s great fun isn’t it?
By: bagnidilucca on March 8, 2011
at 9:52 pm
Great to see Viareggio come alive! I love the costumes. We visited Viareggio in the quiet season, simply to see the puppet workshops. That was an interesting experience to see how these giant puppets were made. Now I can’t wait to see how these are displayed in Carnevale. Bring on the pics, Deb!
By: Sandra H on March 8, 2011
at 10:16 pm
They will be there soon. I would love to go to the workshop.
By: bagnidilucca on March 8, 2011
at 10:21 pm
You’ve given me some lovely pictures to smile over! Thanks Debra! I like the man holding his head, I had to think about that one and I love the Red Riding Hood collection and the Teletubbies, and it looks all so relaxed and just great fun. Lucky you 🙂
By: Joanna @ Zeb Bakes on March 8, 2011
at 10:37 pm
I loved the Teletubbies, they looked so happy, all out together.
By: bagnidilucca on March 9, 2011
at 7:07 am
Great pictures!!! I love the colors! Really well done 🙂
By: jcilt on March 9, 2011
at 12:19 am
Thank you. I will put up photos of the floats soon.
By: bagnidilucca on March 9, 2011
at 7:06 am
Great costumes!! I have never been in Italy in carnival time, but I would love to see more…
By: Minna on March 9, 2011
at 5:15 am
You should go – it is fun.
By: bagnidilucca on March 9, 2011
at 7:05 am
Its so great to see everyone just having fun & throwing themselves into the spirit of the day – all without any problems. Great pics Deb, you’ve brought us along with you again. Thanks 🙂
By: Anna Johnston on March 9, 2011
at 6:10 am
It is amazing how smoothly the whole thing goes with so many people.
By: bagnidilucca on March 9, 2011
at 7:05 am
I’ve never been to Viareggio, but I do have a friend there. I love your pictures–since I’ve long wanted to attend Carnevale Viareggio, your pictures enabled me to partially fulfill that dream. Thank you!
By: RitaElizabeth on March 9, 2011
at 7:10 am
You should visit your friend when Carnevale is on. It woud be fun to be on one of the balconies overlooking the event. I hope you enjoy the float photos that will follow.
By: bagnidilucca on March 9, 2011
at 8:06 am
Lovely.
Thanks, Judy.
By: Judy on March 9, 2011
at 10:03 am
You will have to come back to Bagni di Lucca one day to see this.
By: bagnidilucca on March 9, 2011
at 4:49 pm
Wow! Was that annual carnival? What did they celebrate for?
I like the photo:a bee baby with the father.. cute!
By: Prima on March 9, 2011
at 3:27 pm
It is an annual celebration that happens all over – at the same time as the one in Rio. I’m not sure why. I will have to investigate.
By: bagnidilucca on March 9, 2011
at 4:39 pm
Such great fun, and so many colours! Must have been a wonderful day, Deb. So here’s the question – what did you wear? 🙂
By: Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial on March 9, 2011
at 7:56 pm
I was very dreary and wore regular clothes. That is why there are no photos of me.
By: bagnidilucca on March 9, 2011
at 8:04 pm
Fabulous photos Deb…. looks like lots of fun and colour
By: Sandra Larkin on March 9, 2011
at 11:14 pm
Wait until you see the next post.
By: bagnidilucca on March 10, 2011
at 9:56 am
The Italians do love to dress up dont they and they do it so well. Reminds me of the Comic Festival. Great photos – one day I will visit at Carnivale – the one in Venice is also on at the same time I think? Liz
By: Liz on March 11, 2011
at 4:50 am
It is a lot like the comic festival, but with huge floats added. Venice is around the same time. I will have to go to that one next year.
By: bagnidilucca on March 11, 2011
at 5:01 am