Madeira - the people's carnival

It's quite a late blip from me today. I needed to try and capture something of the chaos and excitement of the REAL Madeira Carnival.

Saturday night was the glitzy and glamorous, Rio-style carnival in Funchal, Madeira, but the Tuesday parade, in the afternoon, is the celebration in which the local people poke fun at their politicians, share jokes and have a great time dressing up.

It's crazy, chaotic, colourful, anything goes.

Clapped out vehicles with Elvis look-alikes, gorgeous looking dolly birds (apart from the stubble) little clowns, witches and fairy princesses - this is where the children dress up along with the adults (no alcohol or trouble in sight)

So how to find a blip to capture it.

This was not my best photograph in artistic terms, but I tried to capture the unique quality of the event. Dogs, costumes, floats, bewilderment, excitement. I have also put a few pics on Twitter...

There is no way of showing it. You just have to be there !!!