6 min read
*Note: I took too many photos today to post here, but they all can be found in a separate album on the Photo Albums page of this blog. (The titles are links to the actual albums since the slideshow only works with Flash).
Today was my first NYC Pride Parade, but the third parade that I've been in. Since the first 2 were in my hometown, needless to say the NYC one blew the others away.
I got up at noon and got ready since we were told to be at 38th and 5th/Madison by 1:30. It was supposed to be a 30 minute walk according to Google Now, which apparently does not monitor the speed and congestion of foot traffic like it does for vehicles. It was misting when I left my apartment so I brought an umbrella, which I used part of the way. I was making good progress until I hit around 30th. Then I had to retract my umbrella and bob and weave through swarms of spectators and tourists that were really slowing down my stride. I noticed when I reached 38th and was trying to cross to get to 5th the way was blocked off as the part of the parade was already marching down the avenue.
After talking to some police officers, I had to go a few blocks further north to pass, which luckily was only 2 blocks. Looking at my watch, it was 1:28 so as soon as I got out of the congestion I started sprinting for a couple more blocks to get to the formation area on time. I saw lots of pretty out-there outfits along the way but didn't dare take photos.
Finally I reached the place where they were letting marchers get by to get to their groups. Seeing my "andproud" Google shirt, they let me by and after a while I finally found our float with plenty of Googlers wearing the same shirt. I didn't see many interns but that's because a group of them arrived 10 minutes after me. By now, my previously straight hair was a frizzy mess from the mist and running, so I just pulled it back and waited for it to dry.
Our pride banner and many colorful "andproud" balloons
While we waited to march, some of us went up to the edge of 5th to see the other marchers going down the avenue. There were a ton of groups -- so many that instead of 2:30 like I thought we would probably start marching at (since I figured they wanted us there like an hour early), it was after 4:30.
A pride color guard
The other interns and I still managed to
goof around while waiting for over 3 hours
After dealing with disgusting bathrooms, bizarre smells, and A TON of people for the long wait, we started cheering as we inched toward 5th to enter onto the parade route. It was almost 5 by the time we were on the road and ready to go.
After going 2 blocks, we passed by the announcers on a man lift introducing the groups as they passed by. When we got to them there were lots of cheers as they announced our presence in the parade.
I wouldn't want to be stuck up there for over 5 hours like they were
It was a lot of stop and go (a lot more standing than actually marching even once we were actually on the parade route). As we waited to get moving again, they pulled the Google float up closer to the front.
ITough to see in front of the truck, but there were 2 screens on both the front and back showing the Android versions of the marchers and speakers blasting music
I stayed at the front right behind the banner for most of the way. I was able to see all of the spectators gathered on either side of the avenue. People waved rainbow flags and had wore all sorts of rainbow clothes and decorations to celebrate. It was kind of tough to see everything though since we were so far back in the parade.
I didn't take as many pictures as I would have since people were taking our pictures. We were on video too but I don't know for what, I just saw people with the giant video recorders running around getting footage of the parade. We even had our "Jump camera" (no, it's not for recording the marchers doing an epic simultaneous jump) to take 360 degree VR video of our march.
Snapped this gem mid-parade
After what felt like a long time of alternating between standing and marching for about 12 blocks, the interns agreed that our legs and spines were in agony and that we were incredibly hungry so we decided to split off from the group as we neared the office. We made it about halfway through the parade. We probably would have made it all the way without a complaint had we all showed up 3 hours after we were told to.
Only a mere glimpse of the aftermath
(and this wasn't even part of the parade route)
We got back to Google, made a beeline for the micro kitchen for refreshments and snacks, and then split off to meet up for dinner half an hour later. In that time I sat in a massage chair in the game room to try to fix my back which was in agony from standing (even in flat shoes -- the same ones I was able to comfortably trek 10 miles across San Francisco in).
We wanted to try out the Meatball Shop near my apartment since we heard it was good but just ended up going to a diner since it was a 40 minute wait. I got to try my first bison burger but it was just alright. One thing I've made an effort of doing is to eat as many new things as possible while here. So far I've gotten to try duck, lamb, goat, Mongolian food, char, snapper, trout, and a whole bunch of food which I don't even remember the names of.
Now that the day is done, I've got to regain my energy for another code-filled week -- err 3 days of work before the long holiday weekend.