We were all very excited Sunday, because Macerata had a Carnevale celebration. Many of you will recognize that as the season that precedes lent. It's probably best known by the very last day of Carnevale, known as Fat Tuesday or Mardi Gras. Our town and many others had parades this weekend. I recorded the band above playing a traditional Italian song (Neopolitan, to be precise).

I thought people might like to see The Simpsons float. The show is popular over here, too.
We all thought this float was particularly interesting given the shifty-eyed Arab charicature that figured prominently. This float would have created a lot of raised eyebrows in the US, and probably a protest or two.









You can notice a few things here:
the corner of the bleachers;
a number of food vendors;
people on the sidewalk above the vendors;
a float on the road above, moving away from us.

We're outside the walls and the terrain is still steep, so the sidewalk and road above make a good vantage point for watching the gardens /park below, where the activities were occurring.




Ball State student Whitney enjoys her traditional Italian treat, zucchero filato, or "sugar string." Kim bought roasted candied nuts.
Also note the stuff in in Whitney's hair and the hair of the guy in the left of the frame. People in the parade throw confetti at the crowd, and the crowd throws it back (and at other people). Silly string is for sale all over the place, and people (especially kids) have no reservations about nailing any and everyone.