Ceret - Carnival Sunday

The two parking lots at the edge of town, Place de la Libertee and Place de la Republique both had signs indicating that they were closed for parking from 2 to 7 today. Ours, Republique, had started to empty out last night as residents moved their cars to other lots. This morning it was still busy but just with cars parking for a short time as people picked up their "daily bread" (Literally, ever single person came back to their car with a bakery bag or box)

This was Libertee at about 1pm. Its usually packed with cars. By about 2pm people were being dropped
off here in costume and theatrical makeup. The only float here at that point was the rugby club (dressed
as cavemen and already bouncing to the loud music from their float (a cave).
 

The town was very quiet, even for a Sunday, as if it was holding its breath, waiting for the big event.
Dad decided to watch from his bedroom window. Mum and I staked out a table in the sun at Le France at about 2:30. We had a coffee and watched the place gradually fill up. It was cold and windy, Mums hands were too cold for her to sketch.

People beginning to line the streets.

In the audience, most of the kids, and even some adults, were in costume. The older kids and teenagers
were running around throwing shaving cream and squirting liquid string at each other.
 

An Indian and Spiderman. Like Halloween at home the costumes are less effective when you add boots, coats, hats etc.
Most of the boys were super heroes though there were also some knights. Most of the girls were princesses from the
movie Frozen (quite appropriate today).

The cavalcade was to start at 3:30 but we were at the end of the route so started to hear the bands at about 3:45.

First a group dressed like they were from the Caribbean, dancing to the music
of the band coming behind them.

Then a float covered with children dressed as super heroes. There was a zip line on the float with a mattress at the back to land in, so they could practice their super flying powers. The kids on it were having a great time.

Then the batmobile. I think under all those paper flowers it was a dragster because it
roared, jerked and belched stinky fumes all around the route.

An igloo with polar bears and kids dressed as eskimos
fishing off the sides.

followed by a group dressed as eskimos.

A rather scary looking rabbit. It and the tractor pulling it, covered with coloured paper
flowers and accompanied by people dressed as rabbits.

Another band.

And this one is for Heather. She does so love clowns!

This isn't even a third of it but I'll save some for the post next weekend, when we get to see it all again. But I have to post pictures of this float.

Under the maple leaf there were a couple of stencils of moose

and on the float itself, a pine tree and a bunch of guys in plaid shirts drinking beer. Eh?

The parade was disorganized and there were lots of gaps while we waited for the next floats. I think this was because we were at the end of the route. Next week we are going to try for a seat at Le Pablo which is nearer the beginning. At one point a float stopped for about 10 minutes in front of us while the driver and some of the people off it, walked into the bar, got a drink and greeted a lot of watchers. If that happened all the way round no wonder it was sporadic.
As well as the bands, every float had a  music system with huge speakers and there was heavy base and loud music from each one. Those on the float and walking with it were bouncing and dancing to the music. They looked like they were having a better time than those watching (and they were keeping warmer too).