Lake Parade

Every summer in July, the road around the lake in Geneva is blocked off for a "technoparade," or a parade where floats or Lovemobiles blast dance or techno music. Starting in the mid afternoon, the parade of Lovemobiles goes around the Geneva part of the lake very slowly, ending up on the other side about 3 to 4 hours later. At that point, they set up stages with a DJ on each stage, it's like having 20 mini parties lined up ready for sampling. The Lovemobiles have different themes, or the dancers on them have themed clothing (sometimes) and really, anything goes as far as clothing. The Lovemobiles are usually sponsored by radio stations or clubs, so the DJs are chosen to impress.
 
This started in 1997 in Geneva, and this year's theme (2012) was "Get ready for the unexpected."
Which I was!
The parade starts with a few cars to go down the blocked off road, but there was no strong enforcement of staying off the road, so most people wandered in between the Lovemobiles when they needed to. 

The Lovemobiles would have people walked around them holding a thin rope to prevent people getting too close.

What I called the flash Lovemobile, protected by men holding a thin rope

Some of the Lovemobiles had foam or "mousse" spewing out the back, which covered the dancers and the parade watchers.

MAD Lovemobile with foam or "mousse"

A trail of foam left on the street from a Lovemobile

Most people were there, like my friends and myself, to people watch. Because so many people dress up or dress oddly, it was so much fun to watch the parade of Lovemobiles and the people on the street too!

Cheeky

A stand off, or a casual encounter?

Moo

It's fun to see the Lovemobiles go by the ritzy hotels along the lake. I wonder what the hoity-toity hotel guests must think. Are they confused, outraged, or do they join in the fun? Do they get deep discounts on their hotel rooms?

After the parade moves around the lake to the other side, people either followed the Lovemobiles, or sat and relaxed, while the street sweepers quickly came out and did as much cleaning as possible. Which was vital to openin up the roads as the streets were littered as I'd never seen in Geneva.
Smashed bottles, trash, cups, confetti, take out food wrappers - you name it, it was on the street. We had to step carefully through it all.

The event goes on until the wee hours of the night, but I think I was there until 11pm. It's surprising how attending a Lake Parade (with a short break for dinner) can wear you out! I'm glad I went, and I really didn't know what to expect. The weather was absolutely beautiful, which really helped the day, and it was nice to hear so much dance music outside, without having to go to a crowded club. All in all, the ambience was pretty good, but it did get a bit rowdy towards the end of the drink, as the afternooners went home and a new crowd mixed in with the other revelers.

How most people felt at the end of the day