Mardi Gras for beginners

When we booked our holiday in Madeira, we hadn't realised that we'd be here for the Funchal Carnival. The main Mardi Gras procession will be tomorrow night. This morning it was the turn of all the school and kindergarten children to dress up for their own parade. There were some brilliant costumes. The little ones were mostly individually dressed. Here, the littlest boy is in Madeiran national costume. The primary schools seemed to go for themes. A group of judges in black bin-liner gowns and curly white wigs was followed by a crocodile of felons paired with police officers. There were city gents carrying attaché cases, chefs with omelette pans, a bunch of astronauts, witches in pointy hats, and a gaggle of artists carrying their paintbrushes and palettes. Great fun.

By the afternoon, on our way back to the hotel, we kept spotting children around the town with their mums and dads and followed a slightly grizzly, tired Snow White toiling slowly up the hill, holding her mum's hand. Tonight we're heading back into town to hear the Madeira Classical Orchestra performing their carnival concert.