snow, curtains, political campaigns and one mardi gras ball

this week it seems winter finally caught up with ankara. we've been hit with snow every day, and yesterday was the worst! but we're loving it. here's a picture looking out of the kitchen window at the storm:

ben and i ventured out despite the rotten weather, to ulus, to buy curtains. on the way we passed a political campaign bus. it's election time here, and that means there are buses and signs being driven all over the city, blasting music, to advertise the various political parties. it's really kind of weird, since it doesn't tell you anything ABOUT the candidates or political parties. and the music is kind of like polka music.
once we got down the hill into kizilay (downtown area), the snow was more of a rain. it didn't prevent these two dudes from having a lovely stroll down the street, laughing hysterically, arm in arm. they were enjoying themselves so much i just had to take their picture. too bad a raindrop got in the way.
saturday night was the mardi gras ball at the swiss hotel, an ex-pat's event for sure. we had a great time. there were people dressed in everything from ball gowns to drag, and even one guy in a tiger-print suit.
the music was by far the worst part of this ball. throughout dinner they blasted all of the 90s love ballads, such as 'i will always love you,' 'everything i do i do it for you,' 'i'm your lady,' you get the picture... it felt somewhat prom like, but as adam pointed out, better because there was an open bar.
here are our friends adam & julianne. we had fun making fun of the music, and later, some killer dance moves, with them.
us!
dance party- it was kind of dark, but i tried to capture the daring & creative moves being displayed.
happy mardi gras!