A
great carnival day for Baltimore. Warm but not oppressive. Much as it
seems to be the case with these parades they never start on schedule. It
can be frustrating but obviously there's a lot going on.
What strike me
about this procession is the distance it traveled compared to the relative
size of it.
From Pimlico Race Track to Druid park. I
personally walked it. Because I made the mistake of parking in Druid Hill Park then
set out to walk to the Pimlico Race Track despite being warned that it was quite
a little haul.
I also observed that three quarters of it's make up was out of
Washington D.C. Baltimore is not Brooklyn, of course. So much for nit-picking.
As the parade threaded it's way along Park Heights to Druid Hill Park it just seem to stall for reasons not obvious to me. Well I
had enough and started back to Druid Hill Park leaving the parade behind.
Just as well, because in all of the excitement I might
have missed these artistic
treats: murals painted on the sides of buildings.
As I walked past the waiting crowds to constant inquires about the
progress of the parade. As I mentioned earlier I have no idea why the progress of
the parade was so slow.
But we can all certainly identify with the fact that
sitting around waiting and waiting whiles your taste buds are constantly under
attack by the aromas of Caribbean cuisine, as you wait you eat, and
you eat as you wait, ha, ha. In my case
I drank smoothies until I felt like just rolling. |
Kudos to Trini
for dressing up in the colors and showing their
pride. The rest of you, for the most part just put on a head band or walk with a flag, as can been
seen from the slide show. What's up with that! Ya looked nice though!
As I sat
on the hill looking
down on the band stand/concession area looking for those dressed in the
colors of their island flags, I expressed my disappointment to a
Trinidadian lady sitting next to me. With a straight face she
pointedly said to me, "You know why? We're the proudest." Well!.. That be
as it may ha, ha, the masqueraders soon arrived and before long the
bandstand was jumping with the reggae, steel pan and soca rhythms
.
But this belies the initial contempt I felt after traveling over
100 miles from Philadelphia enduring traffic delays on Interstate 95 then the natural
release that comes from knowing the journey is coming to an end, and the
anticipation of what lies ahead.
Armed with directions I retrieved from CACAB, Web Site I am about
to make my final turn off to Druid Hill park only to find
access blocked by concrete barriers. These barriers in my estimation had
been wind swept for at least a month but it was not updated on the web
Site.
Now this might not be 'a big deal,' for the official responsible
for communication or whatever sporadic stripes he or she may wear. Leaving
perspective guest, who for the most part has no idea where they are going,
save the faith placed in the Host -- these directions are going to
get you there -- to negotiate an obstacle course well... to put it mildly, it aint nice! |
