Pasadena was in the spotlight yesterday, and didn’t fail to impress. The annual Rose Parade was offered up under clear blue skies and sunshine. Since I don’t have much patience for sitting still through a parade, I chose instead to view the floats directly post-parade. However, I’d have been better off arriving later in the afternoon. While I avoided traffic, I had to stand in the hot sun along with throngs of others, lined up at the entry gate like sardines frying on the griddle, well over an hour for the entrance to be opened. Overcooked as I may have felt, and having forked over the $10 fee, I wasn’t disappointed in the least. The floats were spectacular, beautiful, clever, creative, humorous, colorful… (insert endless other positive, descriptive words here!). I’d last seen them in person over 20 years ago, so this was a really nice treat. Kat was frustrated by her work schedule, but after seeing some of the photos, is determined to not be working, and go in person next year.
Below is the view as I walked several miles from my lucky parking spot, finally able to walk along the fencing towards the entrance. The first floats were already placed in their viewing positions:
The advantage to seeing the floats as I did, is an up-close appreciation for the overwhelming amount of work they require before presentation. For example, placing thousands upon thousands of red kidney beans in neat little rows to create the sides of this vintage vehicle… can you even imagine?! Be sure to click on each gallery to view the photos!
Here’s a few more close up shots to give appreciation for the vast numbers of hours required and the variety of materials used. Every single surface on each float is covered with some sort of natural material:
The remaining shots below (from the 420 I took) are of the various floats. Some shots were very difficult to accomplish due to the vast number of people viewing, posing, elbowing, and photographing, baby strollers crowding through, wheelchairs, etc. Honestly, with nearly everyone in the world owning a camera, smart phone or tablet, I’m estimating each and every float detail was photographed at minimum a gazillion times! It was UNreal, as my mom would say, but spectacular nevertheless! ~SueBee (photos by SueBee)
SueBee and Kat 
Well worth the effort of a little elbowing.
Bruised and battered, but all for the cause! ~SueBee
Oh the colour and SUNSHINE! You lucky lady out there in what from here looks like Heaven. Long dark nights and short grey, wet and windy days here in UK so feeling just a tad envious. Still thanks for the lovely post full of a promise of seasons to come here 😉
Wish I could ship a bit of it over to you and you could send me just a tiny bit of winter back!! ~SueBee
oh if only 😉 Samantha x
So colorful and funny… 🙂
The floats are that indeed!~SueBee