Please Don't Stop The Carnival! Part One

August bank holiday Monday,

where else to but Notting Hill Carnival, so into the train and off we went,

I decided to win the bet and wear a party shirt,

soon we were there following the crowds to where the floats were going to pass,

we hardly had to wait at all when the first group came into view,

but we heard them first,

there must have been 100 plus drummers keeping a samba rhythm,

their numbers just never seemed to end,

all in perfect time, most performers were wearing ear plugs,

but were taking their que from hand signals at the front of the group,

soon after wards the next procession appeared,

the clouds at the back looked a bit ominous, we just hoped it would not rain,

soon some of the more flamboyant customs made their way past us,

then the beer bus, this one Corona beer, but no free samples!

more dancers these more of a Mexican theme,

one got a little ahead of herself so had to wait for the others to catch up,

then one of the larger floats came along, all of the time the music was being provided by lorries keeping pace with the dancers,

or in this case they brought their own musicians,

then more dancers came along to please the crowd,

so much work must have gone into designing the costumes,

then this troupe were past us,

the next group were not far behind,

now some of the guys dressed as Roman soldiers take to the road,

with their ladies,

naturally I have to say Hi to one of London's finest,

then it is time to eat,

burgers all round,

then some more dancers come into view,

I am not sure which country this group are portraying,

or this group,

now that is what I call a costume!

the work that must have gone into making it,

and this one, all of these tail feathers were from peacocks,

another figure, but I did not like the look of that whip in her hand!

as the carnival went on the costumes got more colorful,

and complex,

it must have been such hard work, we are on day three so they have done all of this dancing for the past two days,

next float, Incas perhaps?

or Aztecs,

but whatever the theme everyone was having a great time,

another outrageous costume,

imagine the effort needed to keep going after two days already,

or even one day in the bright sun,

unfortunately it was a bit windy for this one, but if you want to see more of the carnival just scroll down.