ON THE ROAD AGAIN
By Lionel Gayle
The above headline is not referring to Willie Nelson’s hit song. And I’m not trying to sing the line: “We deh pon street again,” from ‘Duppy Conqueror,’ by Bob Marley and the Wailers. But like all those revellers and masqueraders who strutted in the Grand Parade on Saturday (July 30, 2022), I too trod on the tarmac at Lake Shore Boulevard.
Sorry, I can’t say if the Grand Parade — the highlight of the 55th renewal of the Toronto Caribbean Carnival—was a grand event in 2022. The truth is, I reached Lake Shore Blvd. near the end of the parade. My decision was deliberate. I wanted to conserve my strength and wellbeing for the Island Soul concert later in the night, at the Harbourfront Centre. It was brutal when I went to the concert a few years ago—straight from the parade. I felt like a Hollywood-zombie with a thinking brain. This time, my body told me I could’ve gone all day on Lake Shore Blvd. and then attend the concert.
One great thing about the Grand Parade, things always happen after it’s officially ended. This post includes images from the aftermath of the parade.
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| © 2022 Lionel Gayle |
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| © 2022 Lionel Gayle |
(Above): A tight squeeze of revellers and masqueraders at theafter-parade jump-up.No one was reportedlyinjured during the scene.
(At left): A pair for revellers took turn sucking on a hookah (waterpipe.) Nobody said what they were smoking.
©2022 Lionel Gayle
Hello! Hello! You have a million-dollar smile.
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| © 2022 Lionel Gayle |
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© 2022 Lionel Gayle
(Above): Two Grenadian masqueraders share selfies. (At right): The Trini (Trinidad and Tobago) national flag droops large and broad. (Below): Is she a fairy or an angel? |
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| © 2022 Lionel Gayle |
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| © 2022 Lionel Gayle |
(At Right): Daggering girls
just wanna have fun!
