No disguising Majorca´s carnival weather

It was not a case of mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun, but rather mad cows out in the mid day rain yesterday as thousands of people across the Balearics turned out in their fancy dress and aboard elaborate and colourful floats for the annual carnivals. It may not have brought a smile to the farmers, but this year, the favourite theme for fancy dress is mad cow. Many were forced to seek shelter under umbrellas as the skies opened just after lunch with the rain continuing to pour throughout the afternoon. Parades held in the morning passed off without a hitch but the afternoon processions, in particular the huge and extremely popular event along the Playa de Palma had to be postponed. But the rain did not down hearten those who had dressed up, from the very small , some pushed along in their prams, to the old, there was plenty of smiles in contrast to the drooping umbrellas under the rain and everybody still enjoyed themselves. The herds of mad cows were surrounded by teams of aliens, teletubbies, walking fruit, clowns, singing Mexicans, cowboys, horse riders, characters from recent horror films such as Scream and a host of other costumes and disguises including traditional Majorcan dress. Many of those dressed in typical Majorcan costume accompanied the marching bands and groups of local musicians adding some extra rhythm to those events which managed to escape the torrential elements.