Raining hearts

Amsterdam Gay Pride Carnival 2015. Words fail. But I'll try.

We spent the best part 3 hours shoving, jostling, perching, squeezing and dangling  along with hundreds of thousands of spectators packed three or more deep all along the canal route  to watch the spectacle of boat after decorated boat  drifting by in a steady stream, each one heralded by a fresh  burst of loud music. As gay anthems blasted out the costumed  or near-naked crews danced, sang and gyrated, the onlookers cheered and spurts confetti, paper hearts and smoke sprayed forth. Inflatable thingies of various shapes  erected themselves only to be  hauled down to pass under each bridge. Everyone from babies to oldies, dog and bikes was wearing pink if not  dressed to the nines,  and all the windows, balconies and rooftops along the route were crammed with  spectators. After the water-born procession ended the afternoon's jubilation subsided into a  evening of celebration among the crushed cans and rainbow litter as fumes of alcohol, cannabis and barbecue merged in the warm air and a hubbub of voices spilled out of every houseboat, bar and coffee shop. 

Far too many pictures here.