Carnival de Binche

Happy belated Mardi Gras, everyone!

In America, when you think of Mardi Gras, what do you picture? Topless girls, plastic beads and 24/7 consumption of alcoholic beverages? Yeah, me too.

Well, in Belgium, it's a little different. Except for the alcohol part...

Here, there is a parade through the city during which they chuck oranges at bystanders.

Yeah, that's about right.

So yesterday, a bunch of friends and I skipped class (who needs Introduction to International Relations Theory, anyway?) and took the 9:36 am to Binche, a city about an hour south of Brussels. Once we got there, we were greeted by myriad troops carrying sticks, wearing wooden clogs, dressed in what looked like white and orange jester costumes stuffed with pillows and dangling with bells. Well... see for yourself:


We followed the troops to a strange fortified building:


At the end of tunnel they led us through was free champagne. It was qutie crowded. We did not receive any champagne. That was a disappointment. To rectify this, we went to convenience stores (here, they're called "night shops") and bought our own booze. The parade didn't begin for a couple of hours but signs of partying (read: soggy confetti-laden avenues) were everywhere (read: on my shoes).


I've never seen so many interesting characters. Perhaps the most humorous aspect of the environment was the presence of small children.


Aaaaaaaaaand let the orange tossing commence! My friends were great victors.

Morgan

Tom, Ashley and Matt

Tom

Ryan

One of my friends gave me an orange. I gave it to this girl in exchange for a fist-full of confetti.

After I stuffed my face with pasta and (drum roll please) my first Belgian Waffle (yes, they're as flipping delicious as they said they would be...), it was time to go home. I fell asleep on the train and my friends took incriminating photos which you will not find here.

All in all, the Carnival de Binche was citrus-fruit-tastic, and an overall BLAST.

Hope all is well with you, my darling reader. I'm off to help Kathleen with supper.



With love and orange rinds,
Lauren