Photo friday: from Carrara to Viareggio for the carnival parade
Even something as boring as waiting for the train can reveal some interesting surroundings. The first photo was taken at the train station in Carrara (Italy) while we were waiting for the train to Viareggio where we were heading to see the carnival parade. Carrara is famous for its marble caves, which you can see in the background even if only slightly as the photos were taken before the time of digital cameras so details are not as sharp. Massive blocks of marble just lied to one side waiting to be transported by cargo trains. Viareggio’s carnival is less famous than the carnival event in Venice, but it is equally exciting. A long parade of carnival floats along Viareggio’s seafront accompanied by music and dance on the side of the road exhibits the work of a whole year; that’s how long it takes to prepare the show. The floats are the work of experienced carnival float makers that every year come together with an up-to-date topic, they are often political and a satirical form of protest as at carnival time any type of “joke” is allowed. The blue giant baby blowing on the world represents El Nino and is a message to everybody that climate changes have to be taken seriously.
For more photos from around the world go and see Debbie at Delicious Baby.
The El Nino sure looks like he means business.
The giant dragon reminds me of Chinese Dragon dance.
Looks like a wonderful experience. Love that blue dragon!
Any thoughts on why that dragon looks so much like a Chinese dragon?
hi Debbie, I don’t think there is actually a connection other than the people behind it probably got their inspiration from the Chinese dragon’s beautiful colours. I cannot place the characters dressed as clowns on the dragon as part of a scandal of any sort or politics, it was probably related to events that happened in Italy at that time. The photos were actually taken 10 years ago.
I’ve heard about the Carnivale festivities there, but I’ve never been. It looks like great fun!
I can only imagine how much work went into those floats! No wonder it takes a full year to plan the parade.
You’re waiting for a train and you get a carnival. That pretty much sums up a key reason to travel, right there!
That’s what i love from traveling, you never know what to expect and le me tel you that i’ve seen my share of parades but not one of them looked like that…