The Carnaval Parade (Concurso De Carros Alegóricos)
for 2010 was an abbreviation of previous years. Although
the imaginatively fabricated floats of a decade ago
were lacking, the enthusiasm of the spectators retained
its level of energy. Decorated floats were sparsely
sprinkled among an almost endless procession of dancing
troupes from the kindergartens and primary schools.
Bright costumes.... spangled, feathered and ruffled,
dressed a line of children that seemed to stretch all
the way to Puertecitos.
The choreography appeared to share a common theme,
one whose history recedes back to the late 1800's when
M.J. Leavitt (the Ziegfeld of the Tenderloin) ushered
in the age of Vaudeville and Burlesque. While a lap-dance
routine has its place and presumably an acceptable demographic
among its shapely practitioners, watching a 5-year-old
deliver a series of pelvic thrusts in the middle of
a busy street can be a little unnerving. One has to
wonder if these kids routinely receive Bump-and-Gring
Thumbelinas for Christmas gifts.
Despite the modest attendance compared to previous
years, it was still difficult to find a place to park
in the downtown area. And the variety of license plates
proves we are still receiving visitors, if only to celebrate
Carnaval.
