SPRING, SUNSHINE AND THE SPECTACULAR ANNUAL NICE CARNIVAL BROUGHT THE REAL HOLIDAY ATMOSPHERE TO FRANCE'S FAMOUS COT D'AZUR TODAY (SUNDAY)...IT'S THE MILLIONAIRES' WINTER PLAYGROUND, BUT THE GREAT PARADE WHICH MARKS THE START OF CARNIVAL, ALSO MARKS THE BEGINNING OF THE SPRING AND SUMMER HOLIDAY SEASON WHEN THE WINTER-RICH ARE JOINED BY THOUSANDS OF OTHER HOLIDAYMAKERS FROM ALL PARTS OF EUROPE FOR TWO WEEKS HOT HOLIDAY SUNSHINE AND FUN.

THIS YEAR THE GENERAL THEME RUNNING THROUGH THE VARIOUS FLOATS WAS TAKEN FROM THE CIRCUS - FIGURES OF LIONS, A RAN AND VARIOUS OTHER ANIMALS DECORATED THE FLOATS TOGETHER WITH CLOWNS AND A TRICK-CYCLIST.THIS WAS THE START OF THE 81ST CARNIVAL IN NICE - THERE WERE MORE THAN 20 FLOATS, 500 'BIG HEADS', AND A THOUSAND BANDSMEN AND MUSICIANS.

THE CARNIVAL CONTINUES FOR MORE THAN A WEEK WITH CUSTOMARY FLOWER AND CONFETTI BATTLES, FIREWORK DISPLAYS, STREET DANCING, AND MASKED AND COSTUME BALLS.IT WILL END ON TUESDAY WEEK WHEN THE FIGURE OF KING CARNIVAL IS BURNT, A SIGN THAT THE MERRYMAKING HAS COME TO AN END - AT LEAST UNTIL NEXT YEAR.