That time of year !

With some negotiation (and lots of begging), I managed to talk my way into getting another "one week only" pass to fly home to Trinidad for Carnival! (with a detour through Chicago to visit Kelley, see previous post to read about my Chicago trip). 

I was so excited! 

After a few days in the cold I was home at last. I turned up the radio, ordered some of our delicious local cuisine and convinced my mother to accompany me in the mad carnival traffic to collect my beautiful red costume. 

Jet lag? Ha ! 

Carnival was here again! Oh yes! 

Two days of dancing half-naked down the streets of Port of Spain to suggestive calypsos, and drinking copious amounts of alcohol all before the Lenten season begins? Bring it on ! 

Carnival is celebrated on the Monday and Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. You can read all about lent in the Canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke about Jesus' forty days in the desert (not on this blog). 
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of this forty day period of prayer and fasting...  

So, with great enthusiasm, on the Monday and Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, 
Trinidad lives it up! 

This is the most significant cultural event on our calendar, and if we are not celebrating Carnival, 
we are usually busy preparing for it. 

Monday morning I woke up before my alarm. My heart was pounding. I was so excited. I hopped out of bed, pulled on my stockings, my teeny-tiny bottom piece, and rhinestoned top and I picked up my phone.. 

Kelley and me

"Kelley! I'm readyyy!"

"Woman! We still have an hour before we leave."

"Oh......... OK! Picking ya up in 20!" 

Monday was amazing. The music this year was the best I've heard for as long as I've been playing mass, I was with a group of wonderful friends, the weather was glorious and the grand stands were opened again this year, so we had a stage to cross. 

Tuesday was even better. 

Warm weather with a few clouds blocking the blazing sun and cool breeze blowing down the avenues, the music was blaring from the massive music trucks, bass pumping..

Masqueraders were out in their full costumes, bright colours, huge feathered headpieces, glitter, rhinestones, boots, capes, beads, carnival makeup, carts full of ice and alcohol, dancing, sweat dripping down our backs, smiling and hugging friends no one had seen since last carnival.

It's the only time of year I get to see most of my friends and family all at once as the country pours out into the streets to celebrate. Black, white, blue, green, young, old, rich, poor, we all party together in the street for two full days.. it doesn't get better than this folks. Trinidad's Carnival truly is "the greatest show on earth" and there is no doubting why it is considered one of the best carnivals in the world.

I'll be back for Carnival 2K12 !