THE MENTON CITRUS FESTIVAL CORSO

April 2008. This is the second article in the series about the French Riviera in 2008. It is subsequent to my earlier article about the great Menton Citrus Festival.

“Corso” is the word widely used in Mediterranean countries to refer to carnival-type parades. In Menton, since 1954 a number of the sponsors who created static displays like those shown in my previous article (www.worldisround.com/articles/344556/index.html) have also commissioned floats for the afternoon and evening corsos. Each float weighs between three ... (more)

I believe "Corso" ...
… as used in the article's title, actually refers to the...

The crowd arrives ...
… by the thousands the full length of the parade route, the lucky ones...

clowns

float representing Corsica
This is a wild boar. Because of the weight of the float, the drivers find...

float representing Japan

This, and the next two photos …
… show dancers from Colombia who put on a great show. Starting about a...

Colombian dancers
There were actually eight of them, but it was hard to take pictures...

more Colombian dancers

Cuba is the island ...
… represented by this float. I suspect that the smoke was intended to...

a pair of dancers ...
… from Cuba, who followed the float. Their costumes were reminiscent of...

another Cuban dancer

my favorite

Tahiti was represented ...
… by this float and its exotic dancers.

Confetti guns ...
… were everywhere. Here they shower the crowd from the Tahiti float.

This giant lizard ...
… represented Madagascar.

These five shots …
… feature two of the more exotic dancers, and a band accompanying them.

"the boys in the band"

What a costume!

Nice feathers!

Wow!!

float representing Sicily

This decoration ...
... on the Sicilian float is the three-legged winged head of Medusa, which is...

These three shots ...
… are of Italian Renaissance re-enactors. The marching boys threw their...

Renaissance Italian maiden

Renaissance couple
Maybe a bride and groom?

This is a kiwi.
Of course it represents New Zealand, where it’s the national bird.

a lovely dancer

a pirate island ...
… is what this float represents.

And here are ...
... some of the pirates (or their ghosts, I guess).

Long John Silver ...
... I presume.

Isn't she gorgeous!

the best ...
... saved for last

article published 04/08/2008

Comments

Add a comment

Festival
Hi Fred, Have booked to go next year in February.....AT LAST Joan
— Joan, July 9, 2008

Spectular pictures Fred: the colors alone bring a smile - and evryone looks so happy! Thanks!
— Barbara, April 12, 2008

The Menton Citrus Festival CORSO
Fred...absoulutely fantastic photography. We could almost smell all the fruit!! The costumes, especially "your favorite"...lovely lady in the deep blue.. feathers were beautifully adorning her head piece. How exciting, we could almost feel like we were there. Thank you once again for sharing your exciting experience. Cheers..Tish and Ray - Oliver, BC "Wine Capital of Canada"!!!
— Tish & Ray Tessier, April 10, 2008

I lied about not getting this. As i zeroed out of my e-mails, they cameon. Spectacular floats and the colours are fantastic, see you.
— eleanor, April 10, 2008

Good one Fred...... I can almost smell the oranges ;o) Love the bright colors + great closeups...
— Lorraine Brecht, April 10, 2008

Thankyou Fred for the follow up. Great. All the more determined to go next year.
— Joan, April 9, 2008

The Menton Citrous Festival
What colour and costumes... and some beautiful young women. I appreciated the variety and the symbols of the floats ... Magnificent floats...Thsnks Fred for sharing this experience ... totally new...
— Frieda Raab, April 9, 2008

oh wow.. what a colorful display... all beautifully captured..
— Jon J. Tan, April 8, 2008

Bookmark with del.icio.us | Digg this article