The Long Pathway: Aniane cuts loose

Well, that's it, carnaval is over, but what a time it was.

Yesterday the school kids took to the streets in costume, armed with confetti and a variety of whistles, tooters and other noise-makers. Instructed to make as much noise as possible and given free rein with a bag of confetti each, they had a wonderful time, parading through the streets.

Nothing could have prepared us for todays parade though. Wow. Four bands, numerous
floats and just about everyone in the village dressed up. More confetti, lots of noise and colour, dancing girls, Elvises, princesses, Charlie Chaplins and Marilyn Monroes, lots of guys in drag, anyone who wanted to dress up could be in the parade. It seemed like everyone in the village was dressed up. We stood on our balcony to watch it go by, waving to people we knew, and people we didn't. One of the guys dressed up as a condom shouted 'protegez-vous' (protect yourself) and threw me a condom ... good to know he thought I was likely to need it! After watching it all go by, we felt like a bit more, so we joined them in the street for a while, then headed home, tired and hoarse.

Reveil Lodevois et ses Pompom girls!