What can we learn from this tradition beyond impressive makeup technique and creative costuming? For my wife and myself, we're taking it as a reminder that we need to talk to our children (and grandchildren) about our forebears.
Some of my favorite moments as a tour leader are watching the expressions of our travelers as they first encounter some of these wonders. There is a particular corner where I like to skip ahead just a little so I can savor the expressions as the group rounds the corner and sees the magnificent Eiffel Tower towering above them in all its glory.