Our Guided Steps: Greek Carnival

Greetings,

Today after Chapel we set off bound for the Carnival Festival in Rethymno about an hours drive.

This region as a whole is rich with ancient history, most notably through the Minoan civilization Rethymno itself began a period of growth when the Venetian conquerors of the island decided to put an intermediate commercial station between Iraklion and Chania (our neck of the woods), acquiring its own bishop and nobility in the process.

Today's old town (palia poli) is almost entirely built by Venetians. It is one of the best preserved old towns in Crete. The town still maintains its old aristocratic appearance, with its buildings dating from the 16th century, arched doorways, stone staircases, Byzantine and Hellenic-Roman remains, small Venetian harbor and narrow streets.

The Carnival is the Greek’s pre-Lent celebration and tomorrow begins a national holiday, Clean Monday. Rethymno’s celebration is the largest on the island. Last year we stayed in town….this being our last year here…we decided to venture out towards the “major” festivities. (that and as long as Harry has the Barker’s, he feels more confident about traveling around the island)
So the Hansen’s and the Barker’s enjoyed a typical traditional festival GREEK style.

Rethymno’s streets were blocked off for a parade. People everywhere, both kids and adults in costume..some appropriate and some not. Food, balloons, confetti, cotton candy..eveything you needed for your typical parade.

The parade’s published start time: 2:00

Actual Greek start time: around 3:00

Here is Gavin torturing me with cotton candy...remember I gave up sweets for Lent. Maybe I should adhere to the Greek Orthodox calendar instead of the Roman Catholic. Which I should add again... neither are our denomination nor does our denomination practice Lent.

Look at all these people....and we were at the end of the parade...where there were less people.

At this point I finally decided to scale a wall for better visuals.

I think this was the most interesting float....not because of its ornate design. Or its attention to detail, but because the driver was also the bartender. I wish I had a better shot to show you guys...bottles of booze were lined up on the side of the driver.

The floats had a aquatic theme to them...fish, dolphins, and this ginormas frog...

And here....is what I am talking about....

Typical Greek style. The people in the parade...were waving, shouting, blowing whistles, throwing candy and streamers.

And talking on their mobile phones.

And smoking...walking down the street, dressed to the nines, tossing out treats to boys and girls... and all while hanging on to their smokes.

And drinking...lots and lots of drinking. If the float driver / bartender was too far away....they just decorated a shopping cart in their colors...and filled it full of booze.

It was hilarious. I mean seriously. Seriously? Do we ever see something like this back home?