The day after and Tampa looks a little worn for wear. Port-o-potties still line the streets by the hundreds, but this poor one looks like it’s had a tough life. It’s the porta-potty ‘o’ shame.

Potty O Shame

I know that this is supposed to be only 1 photo for the day, but there were so many faves from going to Gasparilla that I’ve decided there’s no way I can only pick 1! The day started out right, dressing up in our finest pirate garb:

I had a little Captain in Me

I was sporting a set of mardi gras beads, rockin skull and cross bones cowboy hat, eye patch, hook, and earring, and of course my signature “YAaaaaaarrrr”. We walked through the neighborhoods passed many party houses and onto the parade route… It was very convenient having portable ATMs everywhere. What’s an invasion without ATMs?

ATM arrrrgh

We then waited for the Invasion of the city to happen. We passed time by meeting new pirate friends and chugging our homemade “refreshments”

Our new friends

Hook um matey!

Reppin all my pirates out there

I found out quickly that taking pictures with a hook was not optimal…but a pirate’s gotta do what a pirate’s gotta do!

I sympathize with Captain Hook now

YARRRRRRRRRR!

yarrrrrr

And so it begins

Pirate ship made it's way into the city

The police were there to keep us in line… we got a wave but I don’t think he appreciated us asking him to “take it off!”

Policeman putting up with us

We made lots and lots of new friends that day. Turns out all you have to do is say “WOOOOOOOOO!” and everyone just joins in the pic:

Our new best friends. Mareike looks happy!

These guys had an awesome flag

Many signatures were had

You should've seen the front!

The weather wasn’t really cooperating, but no one seemed to mind

The weather won

The food was inspiring! From the largest bowl of greek salad I think I have ever seen, to turkey legs, and corn dogs. All was consumed

It was yummy!

Big enough to share!

Largest salad I think I've ever seen

I didn't even bother to chew

These guys are marketing geniuses. Their slogans “You might as well be wet on the inside if you’re gonna be soaked on the outside.”

Beer guys are marketing geniuses

Only in Florida is it OK to think that if you put little roses on your bra straps, you can wear it with a tube top and it will look good. #classy

Trashy FL gal

Things started to get out of hand and we decided it was time to leave. This guy really wanted to be in on the picture

Guys fighting and This guy just wants to be in the pic

So even with the rain, fighting, and raucous, we still managed to have a great time this year! Can’t wait for years to come!! Best part was while walking home, having a cop point out to me a girl puking on the sidestreet, where he proceeded to arrest and assault her for being an uncooperative drunk. Alls well that ends well! till next year – ARRRRRGH!

I drove over to Tampa with some of my best friends for Gasparilla tomorrow. Gasparilla is where they run the pirate ship down the river into town and the pirates “invade” Tampa. The mayor gives up the key to the city and fun ensues. There’s a bunch of drunkenness and of course a parade with lots of beads. The town gets prepared ahead of time for all this craziness. When we stopped at a CVS in the evening to pick up a few supplies we encountered this interesting tidbit of a sign: (I guess they were tired of people asking about Ponchos?)

NO PONCHOS