People's Carnival

Tuesday. Mardi Gras. The Slapstick Carnival in Funchal.

None of the cuteness of the Children's Parade. None of the exotic floats and rippling Samba dancers.

Political satire - funny and hand written and the locals translate.

Just fun. Anything goes.

Traditionally it's a Bank Holiday and so is tomorrow. Austerity measures in Portugal mean that they are losing four bank holidays but Madeira are hanging on for just one more year. So - the final chance to let their hair down.

Fun and endearingly innocent.