Ever since I was little, I've been to watch the parade, with a few exceptions. This year, it was the weekend I was supposed to move back into my flat after almost three weeks of bathroom renovation. It was very hot on that Sunday (2nd of June), and even though my flat was a bit of a mess and very dusty from the work, I definitely did not want to spend this beautiful day with cleaning only and nothing else.
Usually, my Mum or even both my parents would have gone to watch the parade with me. But it was too hot for them to stand at the roadside for an hour and more, and so understandably, they both said no when I asked them.
My upstairs neighbours F and T (T, the husband, is a professional plumber and was also involved in my bathroom renovation) were home, and when I asked them if they felt like coming along, they were all for it. It has been only a year and a half that they have moved into the attic flat; they have left Turkey two years ago when the political situation there became unbearable (and possibly dangerous) for them.
We spent not only an entertaining hour watching the parade, but got ourselves ice creams afterwards, and leisurely strolled back up the road together to where we live. I did some more cleaning then, but left the bigger and noisier jobs (hoovering) to the next day.
I did not take quite as many pictures as in previous years, but you can still get a good impression of the hour-long parade, I suppose:
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| Still my favourites: the Shire horses! |
Lovely - I love it when these old traditions are kept alive.
ReplyDeleteMe, too. It is good to see how so many people - all volunteers in their various clubs and groups and associations - dedicate their time and energy to something that is not commercially driven, but gives them self-esteem and expresses their pride of place.
DeleteI'm so glad you got to see the parade again, it looks like a beautiful day. Your Turkish neighbours must have been delighted to be asked to join in with a local tradition, too. It is lovely you all had such a nice time. Here in England it has been so cold and rainy that the idea of an icecream seems quite strange!! :)
ReplyDeleteIt was very hot and we did not envy the men and women in their costumes and uniforms! Yes, my friendly neighbours and I had a really pleasant time together. They are more or less my age, but what different lives they have had from mine.
DeleteI like the shire horses too but my favorite thing would be all those pretty dresses. How I would enjoy this parade!
ReplyDeleteThe shire horses make my heart beat faster, I am so in awe when they slowly walk up the road in that majestic, quiet pace! The dresses are admirably beautiful, and there is more than one I would not mind trying on myself.
ReplyDeleteCertainly looks like a day for parasols, hats and folding fans! (And ice-cream!)
ReplyDeleteA folding fan would not have been a bad idea for us spectators, either, but then taking pictures would have become a little complicated. The ice cream was definitely welcome!
DeleteDear Meike, I've been away from the www and just returned and am happy to see another horse market event with your great photos. My sil Ingmar's sister Nali lives in Germany in Bayern, and has a Shire horse which is so beautiful. My granddaughters have been up on him, with her. I love every bit of this parade! And I am so glad you were able to go with your neighbors. It takes so much effort to put on an event like this. I'm in awe!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Kristi!
DeleteNow I am envious of your sil's sister and your granddaughters - I've never been on a Shire horse, but would love to!
Yes, I imagine preparations for next year's parade will be well under way soon; as the saying goes "after the parade is before the parade" :-)
I love all the beautiful costumes and all the animals. A lot of work goes into the parade.
ReplyDeleteIt is a well-loved tradition of my home town, and I am glad there are still so many groups who participate.
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