Carnevale again ....

This is the time of year when we ask Pietro to interpret the arcane (and not-so-arcane) symbolism of the floats in the carnaval parade at Viareggio!  They stage the parade five times in February; we went yesterday, the first day, as it was a good forecast.  It's a fantastic occasion, with many families out in fancy dress, not just those associated with floats.

Most floats refer to Italian current affairs, and are pretty hard to fathom.  Others deal with the international scene - global warming, the internet etc. and are a bit more straight forward.  Some floats are preceded by scores of dancers in fancy dress, some very well choreographed indeed.  The floats are absolutely huge - easily as high as the surrounding buildings - and the sound is deafening from the rock-band size sound systems on each float.

Barbara snapped this balloon seller's wares on the way to the promenade ...

... and these merry pranksters getting ready to join their float - complete with Churchillian salute!

Prime minister Matteo Renzi featured many times - here teetering on the back of a tortoise (the Italian economy?...)

The big freeze - world leaders warm their hands on the globe after all the oil has abeen burnt up (but who is the character in the middle?)

Matteo Renzi reappears in a reference to the "Transformers" films - the float was called "Reformers"