Page 6 - ARUBA TODAY 1 MAART, 2017

A6 U.S. NEWS
Wednesday 1 March 2017

Mardi Gras: ‘One time of year people can act like fools’

R. SANTANA Walking Club strutted from Charles Avenue near Ca- Every year they do it bigger she conceded that the
J. MCCONNAUGHEY the famed Commander’s nal Street barely had room and better,” Thomson said. leaves festooned around
Associated Press Palace restaurant to the for pedestrians. People In another part of the city, her body were a bit unruly
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The French Quarter, tossing were sitting two rows of people dressed in elabo- to be called topiary.
streets of New Orleans are Begue and her husband,
filled with costumed revel- Erik Winkowski, were
ers, dazzling floats featur- dressed as what could
ing kings and queens, and best be described as large
people of all ages scream- bushes put together with
ing for trinkets and beads. fake ivy and: “...a whole lot
Lots of beads. of hot glue.”
Tuesday marks the culmi- Begue said with all of the
nation of the Carnival sea- year’s heated political
son, which started Jan. 6. commentary they wanted
Mardi Gras is “the one time outfits that were “full whim-
of year people can act like sical.”
fools and get away with For others, the year’s heat-
it,” said one reveler, Craig ed politics were on full dis-
Channell. play.
Channell, his wife, Dar- Jim Segreto wore a cos-
lene Channell, and friend tume inspired by President
Dian Walsh were visiting Donald Trump’s promises
from Tampa, Florida. Host to build a wall between
Bill Tucker pulled a wagon the U.S. and Mexico.
holding a big cooler and The costume consisted of
four roll-up chairs. The blue sateen pants, an Un-
group was among 30 or cle Sam hat and a card-
so people who took the 7 Revelers congregate at the start of the Society of Saint Anne Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans, board box marked with
a.m. ferry Tuesday to Ca- Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2017. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) black lines for cinderblocks.
nal Street. The crowd in- A label read: “Trump’s $26
cluded people in tutus and beads and doubloons chairs deep while families rate costumes were taking billion wall. Mexico offers
a half-dozen pirates. to recordings of his mu- had set up ladders with part in the St. Anne’s pa- ‘nada.’ We’re stuck with
The biggest parades take sic. Fountain, a clarinetist, seats on top for their chil- rade — an eclectic walk- the bill.”
place along the St. Charles died in August of last year, dren to sit on and catch ing parade that starts in “I had to have something
Avenue parade route, but the club members — throws. the Bywater and Marigny that made a statement,”
where the Krewe of Zulu decked out from hat to Elaine Thomson, 48, of Sil- neighborhoods and ends Segreto said.
kicked off the morning’s shoes in nearly fluorescent ver Spring, Maryland, had in the French Quarter. In the Marigny, Kyle Straub
parades and then was fol- spring green — were carry- been there since 7 a.m. Gabrielle Begue described and his friends were
lowed by the Krewe of Rex. ing on the tradition. with a group of friends. her costume as “shrubs, dressed as various aspects
Pete Fountain’s Half-Fast The sidewalk along St. “This is my 23rd Mardi Gras. greens, topiary” although of science under attack.q