050130 – Krewe of Carrollton
050130 – Krewe of Carrollton
Sunday
Today was our first real day out on the town, and it was cool, but dry.
We sent the morning at the D-Day Museum – which to me was like walking thru an exhibit on the History Channel. It was 3 floors of great photographs, short films, and artifacts of both the Atlantic and pacific invasions. As we strolled thru the exhibits, people were constantly asking about Peter so I just told them he was a real history buff and insisted I take him here.
In the afternoon, we were escorted to our privately reserved bleacher stands on the parade route. It was right on Robert E. Lee Circle, where you would have guessed there would be a statue and monument to Robert E. Lee and you would be right. It is said that the statue faces north because he would never turn his back to his enemy.
In truth it is also said that this statue is the only accurate way to determine the direction of north in the city, since the sun rises on the west bank of the Mississippi and sets on the east bank.
The Krewe of Carrollton sponsored today’s parade, and that means it is paid for entirely of private funds. The krewe also pays their portion of the city’s expenses for police, fire, medic, and cleanup.
There were 27 floats, along with high school marching bands. The theme for this parade was historical figures, and each float was made with the likenesses of such notables as Nostradamus, Columbus, Napoleon, Shakespeare, and even our own beloved former governor and president, Ronald Regan.
As soon as the first float passed us, the beads and paraphernalia was flying and with hands in the air, and shouts of “throw me something over here”, the stands and crowds were in a frenzy.
I must say that Peter held up very well, considering it must have appeared as if it was a war zone with incoming missiles everywhere.
We managed to catch our share, and others shared some of their booty with us as well. Some came away with shopping bags full of beads and stuff, and this is only the first parade. We are expected to attend many more, and next weekend, they are expected to be quite large and plentiful.
There are supposedly hundreds of parades that go one during this carnival holiday, with as many as 10-15 a night in different areas of the city and outlying areas simultaneously.
Guess what kind of souvenirs you all are getting when I return.
Till next time,
Sunday
Today was our first real day out on the town, and it was cool, but dry.
We sent the morning at the D-Day Museum – which to me was like walking thru an exhibit on the History Channel. It was 3 floors of great photographs, short films, and artifacts of both the Atlantic and pacific invasions. As we strolled thru the exhibits, people were constantly asking about Peter so I just told them he was a real history buff and insisted I take him here.
In the afternoon, we were escorted to our privately reserved bleacher stands on the parade route. It was right on Robert E. Lee Circle, where you would have guessed there would be a statue and monument to Robert E. Lee and you would be right. It is said that the statue faces north because he would never turn his back to his enemy.
In truth it is also said that this statue is the only accurate way to determine the direction of north in the city, since the sun rises on the west bank of the Mississippi and sets on the east bank.
The Krewe of Carrollton sponsored today’s parade, and that means it is paid for entirely of private funds. The krewe also pays their portion of the city’s expenses for police, fire, medic, and cleanup.
There were 27 floats, along with high school marching bands. The theme for this parade was historical figures, and each float was made with the likenesses of such notables as Nostradamus, Columbus, Napoleon, Shakespeare, and even our own beloved former governor and president, Ronald Regan.
As soon as the first float passed us, the beads and paraphernalia was flying and with hands in the air, and shouts of “throw me something over here”, the stands and crowds were in a frenzy.
I must say that Peter held up very well, considering it must have appeared as if it was a war zone with incoming missiles everywhere.
We managed to catch our share, and others shared some of their booty with us as well. Some came away with shopping bags full of beads and stuff, and this is only the first parade. We are expected to attend many more, and next weekend, they are expected to be quite large and plentiful.
There are supposedly hundreds of parades that go one during this carnival holiday, with as many as 10-15 a night in different areas of the city and outlying areas simultaneously.
Guess what kind of souvenirs you all are getting when I return.
Till next time,
posted by The Highway Guys @ 11:59 AM
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