They started gathering at about 8 am yesterday. All of the bands and marchers filled the cross streets in order to practise and wait their turn to join the parade.These side streets were actually more fun than watching from the official route as there were lots of variations on the "duelling bagpipes"theme.... Union bands, highschool bands, Police and firefighter bands from all over the US, were gathered waiting their turn..... Middle aged guys ....shivering in their kilts.....highschool students eyeing up of rival bands from little towns you never heard of..... Drunk people watching and shouting...there seemed to be a lot of shouting... Last night firemen from all over the US were roaming the streets in full dress uniforms.... they seemed to be a BIG hit with the ladies of NYC...... The usual "kiss me I'm Irish" t's were on display, and street vendors were doing a roaring business in all things green. Though I didn't see anyone actually drinking on the street, there were some pretty hammered folks out there as early as 10 am....
It went on until about 5, and in all over 250,000 people marched. Traffic was snarled for hours, but no one seemed to care.... By about 4 the guys and girls wearing the "kiss me, I'm shitfaced" t's seem to rule the day...
Everyone's Irish today
I'm going to try and get some typical NYC shots today. If they turn out ,I'll post a few
Terry
2 comments:
Hey the americans sure know how to celebrate it. the pods here haven't got a clue - and St. Patrick was a prodestant. Most catholics take the day off ! The world is a very strange place !
Way cool - gotta check it out someday......
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