frjack Loc: Boston, MA

Yesterday was the carnival parade in LJ. Town was very crowded. Many people were dressed in costumes, mostly simple easy to put together ones leaning heavily on wigs, dark glasses, and pirate clothing. Much less cross-dressing than is typical of Halloween in the U.S. but, (sigh) there was one man dressed like a nun, a compulsion I will never understand. The weather was superb and everyone in a good mood. I was here last year for the Carnival but was much better prepared this year and wandered all over the place with the camera. Below is a sampling of what turned out to be a long and productive photo walk.

It sounded like gunshots. It wasn't. It was men cracking whips. Once they got the whips moving the sound was loud and sharp. Their movements were balletic as seen in the young man on the left.

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The whips did not hit the pavement and there was nothing on the end to cause the sound except the small horsetail. These guys would be wicked pitchers in American baseball given their shoulder strength and action.

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"Kurenti" walking toward the parade start. The bells are loud and low. Some are three times the size of the one here. When a group passes by bumping and grinding the sound is impressive.

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A group of kurenti having a pre-parade beer. Except for the kiddo.

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That is quite a hat. It was not the only one. Not certain of the region it symbolizes.

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Amazing stilt walkers. They walked at least 1 mile on the stilts, much of it on cobblestones and the last part up a small hill. The dragon symbolizes Ljubljana.

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The accordionists consulting each other.

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OneEasyRider Loc: Mount Airy, NC

Very nice frjack. Appreciate your descriptions.

phv Loc: Goleta, California

Your eloquent descriptions caption the photos nicely! I love these. A glimpse of somewhere I'll probably never see.........thank you!

frjack Loc: Boston, MA

Thanks for commenting. Context is everything in a photo.

frjack Loc: Boston, MA

My dream job is now to spend six months per year in LJ and six months per year in the U.S. showing them and encouraging people to visit.

ebbote Loc: Hockley, Texas

Very good Frjack.

frjack Loc: Boston, MA

Thanks. I can't decide if I want to learn to crack a whip or play the accordion. The stilts are out.

ebbote Loc: Hockley, Texas

The accordion is a lot safer Frjack.

Lagoonguy Loc: New Smyrna Beach, FL

Thank you for sharing your photos of Ljubljana. My wife and I loved our visit there several years ago. This is quite a treat to see the carnival scenes. We trying to get back next year.

frjack Loc: Boston, MA

Thanks for commenting. LJ is a great city. Wonderful city. Safe. Clean. Beautiful. Photogenic. What more could anyone want?

Keldon Loc: Yukon, B.C.

From your photos it's clear I have to get there some day soon. Great informative shots.

BTW: the sound a whip makes is actually caused when the tip exceeds the speed of sound and creates a small sonic boom.

frjack Loc: Boston, MA

Thanks for the comment. Visiting Slovenia with a camera is definitely a good idea.

Sea dog Loc: Sunny Sydney Australia

frack Great shots and an interesting carnival. Will be there for a very short time end of May. Have enjoyed your many posts and am really looking forward to seeing as much as I can and hopefully get some good pictures to bring home to Sydney.

frjack Loc: Boston, MA

Thanks for the comments. Drop a PM when you are coming. I may be in town. Am here until July but will be doing some lecturing in other places and have committed to a week in a town to the north to help out the priest. We live at the base of the road leading to the castle. I spent 8 months in Australia in 2011. Half of the time was at Campion College in Pymble and the other all over the place bounded by Sydney, Sevenhill (Clare), Port Lincoln and Melbourne.

phlash46 Loc: Westchester County, New York

Looks like a wonderful time! I was there years ago and stayed at the Grand Hotel Union. Is it still there?