But a local tree reminded me it's Carnaval time in the
world. Couldn't get to Rio or New Orleans or Sydney this time. Almost as good,
went over to Ybor City, the historic neighbourhood of Tampa, for the annual Night Parade of The Krewes. Tampa has a
heritage of Pirates ("krewes" = crews, get it?) and Cuban cigar makers and immigrant social
centres. They all came together in a crazy, ear-splitting, zany-coloured
procession of hundreds of floats/bands/street pirates. The crowd of about
130,000 lined 7th Street to beg/kiss/scream/lurch for ---- beads! Beforehand we
thought we'd be lucky to get a string or 2. But the beads came raining down
from balconies, thrown from the floats, and just plain kept emerging in the
warm night air.
It's amazing what people of all ages will do for a string of
beads. The pretty girls in cutoff shorts standing next to me somehow got a
neckfull just by batting their eyes. I had to kiss pirates' wenches and pose
for snapshots for many of mine. Good thing I hadn't shaved for 4 days ---- my
stubble was my pirate gear!! Pat screamed and cajoled for hers, especially to
the cigar-chomping firemen. My ears are still ringing. We did all right with
hundred of different colours and shapes. But the noise and pure shouts of joy
on the street were the best uplift we've had since the 2010 Olympics. Which of
today's double header would you prefer??
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