So I went, I saw, and now I can check that off my list!
The Tournament of Roses is located in Pasedena, CA. It is a college that has a football game and then a parade on New Years Day. Why is that interesting? If you like college football, which a great many Americans do, then this is a premo game. If you like parades, then this is a premo parade.
The whole thing actually begins the day before. Noon on the day before the parade pedestrians may begin staking out their sidewalk claim. And yes, hundreds of families do just this. For many it is a family tradition. This includes camping, sleeping, and cooking meals on the sidewalk. And let me tell you, if you don't respect dibs then your in for a world of hurt. These families are extremely territorial about the area of sidewalk that they have chalked or taped off. Afterall, they are sleeping in 40 degree cold to hold that real estate.
Then you have the day of the parade when the rest of us come into the picture. At this point, the premo seating on and in front of the curb is gone. So you do your best to get to the area and find a spot. Streets get blocked off a few blocks away. You have to find somewhere to stash your car at $20 a spot. Or you metro / bus your way in. And it's all way early in the morning. In my case, our group was up at 5 am, out the hotel by 6 am, and looking for a spot to watch the parade by 7 am.
While you wait for the parade to start you do people watching. There are those who yell at you about heaven, hell, sins, and so forth. Amercia is the most Christian nation I ever been to, I really don't know who these people think they are going enlighten. Then there are just the regular folks around you. I chatted up a local who had friends in from Germany. Very nice folks. And of course becaue it's cold and we've been up early, it's the Quest for Coffee! Finding somewhere that has coffee to sell with a reasonable line.
So the parade starts at 8 am. Where I was at, the parade reached me by about 9:30 am. Just before the parade starts there is a show put on by the motorcycle cops. They do corridinated moves up and down the street to clear it of pedestrians. Then it was 2 hours of 94 floats and a million highschool marching bands. And horsies!! I got a picture of each group - minus most of the marching bands - and every float.
The floats are the main attraction. They huge, elaborate, and made of roses. Getting a program (purchased from scouts) tells you the story and message of each float. There is a float sponsor, some coprporation, and then a message usualy sentimental. A lot of them have moving parts, there were people singing, so on and so on. I think it's nice the floats all have a meaning to it.
And that's it. Then you flow with the crowd back to your car, bus stop, or metro station. Try to find a public bathroom along the way if your lucky, a port-o-john if your not. Grab some lunch and head on home.