Dressing up
Just as Marleen, I'm from 'above the rivers' so the carnival celebrations are not at all 'my kinda thing'. But hey, it's theme week here at Suttershutter, so... When I think of carnival, two things pop-up in my mind.
One. I moved to Arnhem some 9 years ago, to a nice house near the city centre. Not always peaceful and quiet, but no real nuisances. Until that dreaded sunday morning. I woke up hearing absolutely horrifying music at a bizarre volume. What the...? I looked out the window and there it was: the start of the very loud floats parade! I didn't know they did that in Arnhem and in *my* street... The years to follow, I always made sure I wasn't at home at carnival sunday :-)
Two: the dressing up. I don't really see the fun of wearing a peasant's smock, but some people dress up very nice. It's fun to look at, but since I'm not into carnival... There are other places to watch beautifully dressed people. At gothic festivals for example. In 2005 I was at the M'era Luna festival in Germany where I saw this funny dressed girl. And lots of other dressed-up people - I couldn't stop taking pictures!