Dunkerque carnival 2010
Feb 14th, 2010, 11:01 PM
#1
Original Poster
Dunkerque carnival 2010
Dunkerque is not considered to be a hotbed of tourism. It is an ugly industrial town almost completely rebuilt after the war, and not very well at that. Frankly, it is generally a pretty grim place. But it is also one of the principal cities of French Flanders and therefore has a magnificent carnival tradition.
I went there on Saturday and made a photo report about it: http://tinyurl.com/yzq6pl4
I drove from Paris and back (290 km) each way, but I probably should have taken the train. But since this was all new to me, I wasn't sure how long I would be staying.
It wasn't even one of the major days, but I was highly impressed by the joy of the people and the whole carnival atmosphere. There are no professional floats like in New Orleans or Nice, and it wasn't even one of the days when the famous "giants" are paraded through the streets. This was just a little neighborhood event in the "Basse-Ville" of Dunkerque. I think I'll be back.
(The photo report is not finished yet, but I will announce it whenever it is...)
I went there on Saturday and made a photo report about it: http://tinyurl.com/yzq6pl4
I drove from Paris and back (290 km) each way, but I probably should have taken the train. But since this was all new to me, I wasn't sure how long I would be staying.
It wasn't even one of the major days, but I was highly impressed by the joy of the people and the whole carnival atmosphere. There are no professional floats like in New Orleans or Nice, and it wasn't even one of the days when the famous "giants" are paraded through the streets. This was just a little neighborhood event in the "Basse-Ville" of Dunkerque. I think I'll be back.
(The photo report is not finished yet, but I will announce it whenever it is...)
Feb 15th, 2010, 05:58 AM
#2
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Merci, Kerouac
Your photoessay reminded me of my first trip to Europe many many moons ago. I was in the rail station in Geneva and trying to accustom my ears to new sounds and find the the correct line to get to St. Moritz when a trainload of revellers (sp) in full costume disembarked their car. I was dumbfound and it took me quite a while to figure out what was going on. My now aged father and I still laugh at remembering our confusion and awe at the celebration.
Your photoessay reminded me of my first trip to Europe many many moons ago. I was in the rail station in Geneva and trying to accustom my ears to new sounds and find the the correct line to get to St. Moritz when a trainload of revellers (sp) in full costume disembarked their car. I was dumbfound and it took me quite a while to figure out what was going on. My now aged father and I still laugh at remembering our confusion and awe at the celebration.
Feb 19th, 2010, 11:43 AM
#5
Oh, fun. Local color indeed. Odd to see some people in blackface, while the people in blueface look less startling to me somehow.
I suppose walking through a crowd of people dressed as clowns when you are afraid of clowns is sort of like the guy I used to work with who forced himself to catch snakes in his grandmother's basement with his hands when he was afraid of snakes. Although I can understand being afraid of snakes.
I suppose walking through a crowd of people dressed as clowns when you are afraid of clowns is sort of like the guy I used to work with who forced himself to catch snakes in his grandmother's basement with his hands when he was afraid of snakes. Although I can understand being afraid of snakes.
Feb 19th, 2010, 12:52 PM
#8
Original Poster
<i>Is this already completely finished?
Do you know the dates for next year?</i>
Actually I saw on the municipal website that it still continues this weekend. Nobody pays much attention to the Catholic Mardi Gras calendar -- this is basically a February and early March event.
I don't know the dates for next year, but Google is your friend.
Do you know the dates for next year?</i>
Actually I saw on the municipal website that it still continues this weekend. Nobody pays much attention to the Catholic Mardi Gras calendar -- this is basically a February and early March event.
I don't know the dates for next year, but Google is your friend.
Apr 12th, 2010, 09:47 PM
#9
Original Poster
Just fixing the old broken link! ---> http://tinyurl.com/y3lvsj8
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