Battle of the Flowers

Yesterday I took the day off and went to the Battle of the Flowers (Battaille de Fleurs) with Deanna. It was down on the Promenade Des Anglais, along the sea front. I had brought a seat ticket but decided to stand instead as you get more flowers. The carts go up and down the promenade and thrown flowers into the crowd. At the start, they are mainly these little yellow flowers called mimosas. However, once they are out of those, they start literally taking the carts apart and stripping them of their flowers. Lilys, roses, sunflowers, carnations, all sorts. I really wanted a sunflower but alas. Unfortunately some of my photos didn't come out as the sun was on the wrong side of us. (Though I got some great ones of the backs of floats!)

Throwing Mimosas at the crowd

I got one of the red lilies on the top at the end!

More lilies.

On the Eagle of Nice float.

Garlands of flowers

The back on one of the floats

Another float.

There were also dancers and carnival bands going around at the same time. And a lot of costumes similar to what I imagine you would see in Rio. (Some could really have done with more material.) Deanna and I decided there was way too much eye candy for the men and not nearly enough for us!

Dressed as flowers

Rio type "dress"

Blue bird

With drum band from South America

One of the parade queens

One of my favourite ones was the bubble machine. What is it about bubbles that makes you feel like a kid?

Bubble machine float

Lots of bubbles!

Unfortunately, we were standing next to these two young teenage boys. Now, you would think that would be a good spot. What self respecting teenage boy would jump and yell and fight to get hold of flowers? Well French ones apparently. And they had longer arms than we did.
Anyway I did manage to get some flowers. :-)

My flowers!