Carnaval Tropical in Paris

Last time I wrote to you, I was still in Guadeloupe. I’ve been back in Paris for awhile now, but as busy as a bee.

Today I could easily have forgotten just where I was as the Carnaval Tropical paraded literally outside my front door.

The event could be likened to the West Indian Day parade, though along with many island contenders (such as said Guadeloupe and Martinique), there were also a lot of other groups representing places as diverse as Bolivia, Vietnam and…Saint Malo?

Brittany’s great but I don’t usually think of it as tropical.

I was delighted by whoever danced by. Fill the streets with music! Fill the rues with drums! I loved the colorful spectacle, especially against the overcast day (thank you, Paris sky for *mostly* keeping the rain away).

People-watching is probably one of my all-time favorite activities. Give me an event like this and I don’t know where to look. I’m as interested in the reactions of the crowd as the costumed participants.

Though I did keep most of my attention on those actually in the parade as you never knew who was going to turn up.

Darth Vader, Princess Leia, a random nun and perhaps the shark from Jaws.

Godzilla and Jane

Aladdin?

Or what.

Um…?

Merman?

Paris is a very diverse city.

I didn’t know a soul involved in the event but all those strangers strutting around made me happy. Good job, city of Paris, for organizing.

Thanks, especially, for bringing the party straight to me.

Bon weekend!