Flat nosers and elephants Part 2

After Saturday's excitement of a park full of pugs, Kritter and Gizmo got to stay home and rest while Alan and I went to a festival here called Dickens on the Strand. Many people dress in full Victorian costume; we improvised ours because you get in free with a costume, but some people spend major bucks getting their custom made!

The best part: I got to ride an elephant!!!
I don't know if there were elephants to ride in Victorian England, but there were elephants at Dickens on the Strand! The one I rode was named Paige. I have always wanted an elephant, but I think this may be the closest I ever get!

These are the wonderful people from who invited me to stay at their home while I was looking for a house on the island and Alan was finishing up the last weeks of undergrad in Abilene.

I didn't' know there were so many groups who do this (I don't know what to call it), but there were at least three groups in the parade.

I want to know where all these old time bicycles came from! People were riding them all over the place. I never saw how they got one them!

These boys have the perfect "we need your donations" faces. The little one never wanted to play his; he kept handing it back to his mom despite her best efforts.
Jacob Marley (or as I heard someone say, "Hey, Bob Marey!) wanders the Strand.


The beggars scramble for coins someone threw during the parade.

How sweet! Father Christmas visits with a prison inmate!

Our friends eat chicken on a stick. The biggest thrill for Alan was all the food on sticks; there was even alligator on a stick! We didn't try it.

"Beggars" try for some cash.