I Love A Parade!

[mlerules]

Found FREE ('til 1pm) parking this morning - a miracle in and of itself given all that was going on out yonder. Hit Farmer's Market just as the parade began. Now I'd read 'bout the Festival of Chariots and knew 'twas going on today somewhere in Venice, but I managed to time it just right such that it began meandering South on Main Street just in front of the Farmer's Market at the exact moment I arrived on the scene. Needless to say I postponed the FM and joined the throng! There were three (3) huge chariots w/wheels taller than me, festooned w/flowers, carrying people dancing and chanting and tossing flowers to the crowd. I scooted up towards the front (behind the man carrying the huge "There Is Only One God and One Mediator Between God & the People: Jesus Christ" banner and the police cars clearing the street) where a mess of folks were drumming, playing cymbals, twirling & dancing and chanting. I MUST get a digicam - but at least I have the picture clear in my head: the processional turned towards the beach at Rose, so it went right by and under the wonderful tall bearded ballerina clown...gorgeously twisted imagery. Before turning South again onto the Venice Boardwalk, we had to run a gauntlet of rabid X-tians w/more "Beware False Teacher" and other miscellaneous bible quotes adorning huge banners (they ended up leading and following the Hare Krishna processional). I don't know nearly enough about the bible so had no idea why the megaphone-toting man shouting 'bout the End Times decided he needed to wear a holstein costume (complete w/udder) to get his point across. All I could think of was a sacrificial bull, but this was clearly a female cow, so I dunno what was going on there. Anyway, the tourists on the boardwalk certainly got more than they bargained for this morning. One couple who'd clearly just rented skates and knee pads and elbow pads and wrist guards seemed mildly amused but a bit taken aback as they couldn't head North on the path they'd hoped to take. All in all 'twas a delightful scene w/great colours, music, beats, swirlings, vibes, energy flowing along nicely. Eventually I took off my shoes and headed off on my own across the sand to the sea where I waded in the surt back North then East again to the Farmer's Market where I (finally) ate lunch while listening to a jazz combo and then bought fresh produce & flowers. Made it back to my car 10 minutes before the free parking ended. This is the good life.