Mardi Gras in Cayenne

The carnival season is in full swing and will last six weeks this year. Some people are a bit discouraged because it had lasted eight weeks last year. Anyways, French Guiana can boast of having the longest Mardi Gras season in the entire world.

I took nearly a hundred photos of today's parade through the streets of Cayenne, the capital. I've selected some photos I'd particularly like to share. (Click on photos to enlarge).

The parade is full of characters known in the Guianese culture and traditions. The first characters to appear are the "sweepers" who symbolically clean the streets and prepare for the festivities.

 These colorful ladies dance and sweep to the sound of the bands' drums. They can really move their booties and give everyone a great laugh.

 I didn't understand these characters. Are they supposed to be Creole smurfs?

 Lastly, the parades are full of men in drag. The guys parade around and act as ridiculous as possible to get everybody's attention.

 Lastly, this character is called a Touloulou. She's covered from head to foot so as to completely disguise herself and avoid recognition. Touloulous are the real queens of the parade. If one of them asks you to dance, then you can't say no... you're not allowed to refuse a Touloulou's wish!

More to come next week...