GAY PRIDE PARADE - LARGEST IN THE WORLD
Our morning was quiet and laid back and just like what you might do on any Sunday morning. The afternoon was an entirely different story. Beth was somewhat under the weather. Regardless, we headed out to the Sao Paulo gay pride parade. We knew it was big but not this BIG! Loud, rowdy, street drinking - you name it! Men, women, bi, trans - you name it. Many dressed like New Years Eve, Mardi Gras, or Carnival all rolled up into one.
Uber dropped us off near the start at 12:45pm. So we got a chance to see the excitement build as the crowed swelled filling the street for blocks upon blocks. Boom trucks and beer vendor worked the 1.7 mile parade route down Paulista ave. We worked our way down the street and perched ourselves in a planter for a birds eye view. The crowd swelled! The parade began to thumping pounding base, throbbing music and huge crowds. Past parades have drawn over 2 million people and I'm sure this is no exception. The longer the people came by the more booze was drunk and yes it did get crazy. The outfits simply looked like Mardi Gras or Carnival. This was not straight people watching a few LGBT people strut their stuff. This was full blown demonstration of gay life at full tilt. Most marchers were part of the movement. You were left with no doubt about the strength , pride and depth of the LGBT movement. Our ears (and Beth's stomach) were a little off, so we headed home. The parade was scheduled to go on for hours more. The side street were a wreak. More revelers, tons of trash, people peeing in the bushes and over imbibers catch their breath. Uber as usual whisked us home (as soon as we found a cell signal). Bud
