The Tournament of Roses Parade exceeded all my expectations. What a great way to spend New Year"s day.
My niece and I drove down early Thursday morning, 7 hours to Burbank, where we stayed with my brother and sister-in-law and the cutest baby in town. I know everyone thinks they're babies are cute but this one really is,
the cutest baby in town!
Not knowing what to expect we left at 5:30 am and headed for Pasadena, about a 15 minute drive.
Headed off the freeway at the first exit that was open. Saw a man holding a $20 parking sign. Decided he looked legitimate after he pointed to a women in boots with heels and a leather coat who pointed us into a parking garage. Got out of the car and found out that we were three blocks from the float line up. Walked down three beautiful, tree lined streets that hosted HUGE estates and walked right into the last float in the line up. All lite up by strobe lights and only blocked by a caution tape about 6 feet from the floats.
Yes, I began to hyper ventilate right then!
Not knowing what to expect we left at 5:30 am and headed for Pasadena, about a 15 minute drive.Headed off the freeway at the first exit that was open. Saw a man holding a $20 parking sign. Decided he looked legitimate after he pointed to a women in boots with heels and a leather coat who pointed us into a parking garage. Got out of the car and found out that we were three blocks from the float line up. Walked down three beautiful, tree lined streets that hosted HUGE estates and walked right into the last float in the line up. All lite up by strobe lights and only blocked by a caution tape about 6 feet from the floats.Yes, I began to hyper ventilate right then! 
No crowds, and the floats right in front of me! We walked the entire length and ended right at the beginning of the parade route where we found a seat right at the curb next to a family that had camped out all night. The weather was sunny and warm. After the parade we walked back to our car and drove out never sitting in traffic. The longest line we were in was at the Jack In The Box restroom!
I am definitely going to do this again.
To top it all off, before I even left home I received an e-mail from Charles T Meier himself that gave us some of the inside scoop as to what to do! The bummer was he did not do a float this year, although had he, I'm sure his fingers would have been busy glue gunning flowers and not writing me.
Next year my goal is to work on one of these floats.
Anyone with me?
10 comments:
Great pictures of some beautiful pieces of the floats! I'm glad you had such a great experience.
wow! other then the long drive, which probably didnt bother you a bit due to your excietment about getting there, it sounds like it worked out perfectly! I cant believe you didnt get caught up in any traffic! I forgot to watch it on tv.. I wonder what i was doing that day??? It would be really cool to work on one of those floats, we used to do a church float for the 4th of july parade here, but nothing even close to these floats!
have a great day!
vivian
The photos are beautiful!! Aren't you so happy you went
what a great way to start the new year off sounds and looks great
Whoa, those are awesome! This is one parade I have always wanted to see. I just came across your blog via an email from Dollar Store Crafts about your anthro-inspired bib necklace. I love it! I can't wait to make one myself and I'd love to link to it if you didn't mind.
Absolutely wonderful pictures. Glad you had a good time at the Rose Parade. It is always so special just to be there. I've gone a few times, but now prefer to watch it in the warmth of my own home.
AwwWWWW! Beauty Full!!!! I LOVE a parade!!!and that sweet baby is a cutie!!! hehe Happy New Year T!
what fantastic photos--this is such a great story!! it makes me all happy, like i was there too. hey, it's so stinkin' cold here, let me have all the happy i can get, 'kay?
:)
Nice blog. Glad to go through the Rose parade on your blog. Enjoyed it very much. keep on posting.
I'm with you!!
Leslie Eaton
Winston-Salem, NC
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