Last week, I talked to you about attending Carnival celebrations in Venice. Well this weekend, I tried another variant on for size at Orbetello's annual Carnival parade (and competition).
Never would I have imagined two such vastly different approaches to the same feast. Below you'll see some pictures that will help you understand why.
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| Venice - along the Grand Canal during Carnival |
Needless to say, the geographical proximity of the
meridione as we pushed our way south to the Lazio-Tuscany border -- both central regions just a touch above the official start of the Italian "south" -- was clearly felt and left its mark; I can only imagine what Carnival looks like in Naples!
(Look for more on the
questione meridionale soon.)
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| Venice - Band performing in Piazza San Marco |
What in Venice was a string of bright if serious events -- Renaissance drummers and flag-throwers; traditional Carnival masks -- was in Orbetello a multicoloured display of costumes ranging from the expected (princesses and pirates) to the outlandish (minions and air fresheners) atop and surrounding elaborately engineered floats standing more than 50 feet high and blasting contemporary dance hits from their competing speakers.
And confetti. Did I mention the confetti? In my hair. In my hoodie. In my purse. And, undressing, in my underwear (God knows how) and socks.
I guess it's kind of like Project Runway: there's only one theme, but (in this case), twenty different designers. The only difference is that no one gets sent home.
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| Orbetello Scalo's float pulled by a tractor |
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| Theme: Atlantide (or: Under the Sea) |
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| The view from behind |
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| Orbetello -- Pope Francis makes an appearance (with escorts) |
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| Orbetello - Folk Band |
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| Orbetello -- The People's Band |
Look for videos of Venetian and Orbetellan Carnival on
my Youtube channel (link also available in the right-hand sidebar).
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