Last day of the Carnival

Sunday 26th of February was the last day of the Apokries, the Carnival that lasts for two weeks and which precedes Clean Monday, the first day of Lent.

A huge street party and procession had been organised in our Municipality on Kalamakiou Avenue. We arrived early, an hour before the procession started moving, and already the wide, long avenue was packed with people. There were loudspeakers blaring out loud Brazilian carnival music, whistles being blown, confetti, streamers - a wonderful party atmosphere, everyone enjoying themselves.

A lot of people were in fancy dress - children

as well as adults.

there was a man on stilts, who, 

together with the Brazilian dancers, who had flown over especially from Brazil, led the procession later when it started moving off.

The man posing with the dancers is the Deputy Mayor

Our wonderful Mayor was there too.

For the first hour while we were waiting for the procession to start, we wandered around soaking up the atmosphere, moving about to the music and looking at the people who were dressed up

lots of people were dancing

while some were more interested in the confetti on the ground

We moved on and came upon the first float which was waiting for the procession to start

a unicorn, funded by the pre-school organisations of our area

People loved to pose

and some had great fun with the confetti and streamers

Another float

and another

We moved down to the start of the procession again, as it had started to move, led by the Brazilian dancers

followed by the unicorn float

These kids had great fun walking between the legs of the man on stilts

a dog in fancy dress

Such fun!