Carnival day

Last night was the village carnival and the locals have been fundraising all week to pay for the festivities. The programme started at 3pm with the childrens activities including a bouncy castle with slide, a clown and a magician.At 7pm the Cretan music with professional dancers started and at 9pm it was the main carnival. All the drinks are free and needless to say, most people enjoy one or two (or maybe more!).The sound has to be experienced to be believed because as you may notice on the photograph the whole church front is covered with speakers and the lighting rigging. There are souvlaki (kebabs) stands and a really big bonfire in the middle of the square to keep everyone warm. Most people dress up or if not at least wear silly wigs. There are people working the carnival who go round and black everyones face with burnt cork (all the workers are volunteers and wear an orange uniform). It is estimated that around 5000 people attend the carnival in Mochos as it is the only one still running in the local area. Many only start to arrive around 12 or 1 in the morning. Mochos carnival is actually held the week before the main carnival at the end of Apokries as this is when everyone goes to Rethymnon for the National carnival parade. Here are one or two photos to give you an idea, but as I was partying I didn't manage to get too many good ones once it got started for some strange reason!!!!