Notting Hill Carnival

So it just so happens that the LARGEST STREET PARTY IN EUROPE was yesterday and today, the first weekend we were in London. This is the Notting Hill Carnival, which is a big/loud/fantastic Caribbean-themed festival sort of thing that has been going on since the late 1950s. It was started to counter racial attacks that were pretty widespread in the UK at the time. Now, it's just a (3 1/2 square mile) block party about unity and happiness and joy and all things good!

Susannah and I went together and this was the first thing we saw when we exited the tube station: crowds of police officers on duty to make sure the party didn't get out of hand.

This is some of the parade from afar...

...but looking at things from afar isn't really our style so we jumped right in and joined the parade!

A lot of people were dressed up in exotic costumes.

And everyone was dancing to the live music coming from the parade floats.

We met some Spanish friends...this is Chris looking very serious. And I'm obviously amused by something!

Susannah got some attention, too!

We also met some beautiful costumed ladies who were nice enough to pose for a picture.