Nice of you to photograph despite the NO PHOTOS graphic..

These "modern" characters literally had fans whirring up the backs of their suits. Even with fans, though, it must be awful in the full heat of summer.

There were 3 or 4 of these guys around the plaza, posing with little kids, swaying back and forth, etc. Dodie's verdict was "tacky!" .

Seemingly so, but not sure why. Actually, it was the bright colours rather than the motifs that drew my attention. Must be a bit of the magpie to my nature.

We found the beggar at a different door, with an auxilliary sign, until the line formed at this one for entry, then both beggar and main sign were in attendance at this one (main entry point).

He's holding a "host", the Catholic rendition of unleavened bread, which almost certainly was not the type of bread actually eaten at this meal, if it ever happened. It's extremely thin and meant to melt on your tongue, communicants are forbidden to chew it. This is the "priest-sized" host, broken by the priest during the liturgy and shared with the assistant priest, the congregational ones are much smaller.

And, of course, buskers out front..which is fitting because busker comes from the Spanish.

Now, THESE are cool.

Agreed. Jesus had a lot of fans by then but not rich ones, you know, the ones who had chalices made out of agate sitting around. Vatican II, among other things, was trying to pivot away from the gold embroidering of the gospel but it appears to be alive and well.

A flatiron !

Trompe de l’oeil

Amen, Bill! Well stated!

In Disneyland, the people inside the character costume do change every 15 minutes. ( at least that’s the way it was in the 1960’s)

Seriously? How embarrassing for (us) Americans..( McDonald’s is bad enough)

So where is the beggar..so sad this is commonplace everywhere..