Community

Carnival Float Parade
CONALEP Croc takes first prize.
By Michel Janicot

On Sunday, February 20, 2005, some 11 hand-made, decorated floats paraded throughout the downtown streets of Zihuatanejo as part of the week-long Carnival to the delight of well wishers and spectators.

Three prizes – totaling $10,000 pesos - were awarded to the three most imaginative, creative, original and best-built floats.

A 10-meter crocodile, with a moveable jaw and holding two maracas in its front paws, was awarded the first prize of $5,000 pesos. The handsome reptile replica was built by the CONALEP school (an institution that trains students for the hotel and restaurant industry) under the supervision of Sergio Aguado Calderon, the artist director, who was also assisted by numerous family members in the final assembly and decoration.

The hotel Melia Azul, from Ixtapa, took the second prize of $3,000 pesos for its Caribbean, Tropical-influenced float, complete with palm and coconut tree fronds, colorfully dressed musicians with bongo drums and other assorted musical instruments.

The third prize of $2,000 pesos went to a six-foot high pink octopus - with moveable eyes and tentacles - the work of Señor Aguado and his family. Aguado was further given an honorable mention – plus a $2,000 peso special award from the city - for an eight-foot tall turtle resting on its hind legs and surrounded with white balloons (representing the reptile’s eggs).

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