Le Franco Phoney

Every year, the French get dressed up on Shrove Tuesday and hold local carnivals and eat pancakes. La Clusaz is no exception. With a parade held early enough for kids to watch, my friends and I witnessed lots of wasps (to signify La Guêpe Ride, an annual telemark event: guêpe=wasp), blokes in German lederhosen (complete with beer in steins), fish, playing cards, farmyard animals, a gaggle of clowns, ghouls, various nationalities’ traditional outfits and lots of dodgy fancy dress outfits chucked in as well. However, the strangest moment came when a giant, very cartoon-like Mickey Mouse walked into the bar later on and chatted a group of tigers. Mickey tapped his first tiger mate on the shoulder and the tiger mate didn’t recognise him at all. He did, however, recognise the cartoon character and proceed to scream a girly scream and pull a face of horror. Who ever thought Micky Mouse was so scary? At a few seconds, he realised that Mickey was actually his mate, and he moved over to make room for the giant mouse among the tigers. Unfortunately, I didn’t capture this moment on camera or any of the other great outfits at the pub, as I’d left my camera at a friend’s place between the parade and the pub. So, let me just say: cowboys; Indians; gansters; witches straight from Halloween; slalom skiers in lycra; a variety of face paint. Bring on next year!