Fabulous Flowers

Every year in Madeira, there is a four-day flower festival called “Festa da Flor.” It is the second biggest attraction here after the world-record-setting New Year’s Eve firework display.

At this time of the year, the flowers around the island are in full bloom with every gorgeous color imaginable. On top of it, the Madeiran government ships a bunch a flowers in from Holland (Crisis-Schmisis, they say). I have been avoiding town like the plague for the past few days, because I don’t know about you, but I don’t like to be swept into the moving tide of tourists and subsequently feeling like I’m part of a gigantic, sunburned, shorts-, tank-top-, and Jesus-sandal-wearing cattle herd. But yesterday, I attended the final shebang- the Flower Parade.

Unfortunately, I was misdirected as to where would be the best place to sit to watch the parade, so an hour of sitting was wasted. Well, not wasted, because I did quite a lot of interesting people watching.

 However, I did have to move if I had any hope of seeing this thing. I settled on a ledge overlooking the parade and the ocean. It was quite beautiful.

 Once the floats started to arrive, the music was blaring and the dancers were dancing. The Portuguese love to party, that’s for sure. Aunt Elaine, the whole time I watched this, I thought, “Oh my gosh, how my aunt would be loving this right now…” So cultural! Haha.

I realized that this little shindig was not as big as I had anticipated, but, I suppose when you watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade every year, everything else seems a teeeensy bit smaller… Nevertheless, I did get some cool shots and video. I hope you enjoy. 

This girl gave me a free flower. Happy times.