Carnival Time in Trinidad??!!

[TLCOhio]

From the Chicago Tribune on Jan. 6, they have this headline: "Celebrate Carnival in the Caribbean" with these highlights: "Carnival is about over-the-top, shed-your-inhibitions fun. Like Mardi Gras, it's traditionally a last chance for excess before the solemn season of Lent for Catholics. The annual bash is practically synonymous with Rio de Janeiro. But it's also a big deal in the Caribbean, which, despite popular belief, isn't one homogeneous destination. Each Caribbean island has its own history, cuisine, culture — and its own take on Carnival. On some islands, the event is tied to Catholic traditions. On others, it commemorates slave emancipation or the harvest."

 

Here are more details on: "Trinidad: Feb. 27-28. Trinidad is the mecca for Carnival in the Caribbean. The riotous, multicultural spectacle starts with the pre-dawn J'ouvert (daybreak in French Creole) on Carnival Monday, Feb. 27, when people throw paint on one another. It culminates with Parade of the Bands, where several thousand scantily clad costumed revelers dance to pulsating soca. Birthplace of the steel pan, Trinidad is an oil-rich country whose ports have long been flooded with empty oil drums. Resourceful locals turned them into instruments. Panorama, the world's largest steel pan competition, is held over several days in January and February leading up to Carnival, but the big final competition is Feb. 25 in Queen's Park Savannah in Port of Spain. Many of the preliminary competitions are held in Port of Spain's pan yards, where tourists are welcome to hear steel pan bands practice throughout the year."

 

Here is an added insider tip from this story: "If someone asks if you want a wine, they're not wondering if you'd like a chardonnay. They're asking if you want to wind … as in wind your hips or gyrate, presumably in tandem with the person asking."

 

As detailed in my full live/blog linked below, we were very fortunate to hit a nice and wide variety of Carnival experiences in Bonaire, Dominica and St. Barts. That was one of our top highlights for being in the Caribbean at this sunny time of the year. Below are a few of pictures as "proof" and evidence!! We have not been in Trinidad, but look forward to visiting there in the future.

 

Full story at:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/travel/sc-where-to-celebrate-carnival-caribbean-travel-0110-20161230-story.html

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

From our Jan. 25-Feb. 20, 2015, Amazon River-Caribbean combo sailing over 26 days that started in Barbados, here is the link below to that live/blog. Lots of great visuals from this amazing Brazil river and these various Caribbean Islands (Dutch ABC's, St. Barts, Dominica, Grenada, etc.) that we experienced. Check it out at:

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2157696

Now at 46,852 views for these postings.

 

 

Here are two of my pictures from the Carnival parade on Sunday afternoon in Bonaire. It was suppose to start at 2 pm. BUT, as our destination speaker Cory Sandler noted, he had the "cover" by saying it would be a "Caribbean Time"!!! starting schedule. That actually meant a timing that started closer to around 3:30-4 pm. Both Cory and I had to move forward up that routing in order to get some pictures as things in the parade/festival moved very, very slow. It was such total fun to be here to sample these festivities. We really got a feel for some of the "real people" who live here and how they like to enjoy, celebrate, etc.:

 

 

 

 

 

Here is my wife in Bonaire getting her picture captured with the "KING" of this segment of their Carnival parade group. Are people having fun? The facial expressions summarize the enjoyment perfectly!:

 

 

 

Here are two photo samples from Dominica's wonderful Carnival parade and celebration during our February 15 visit. One of the super big pluses was having it done and twisting in and around their old, historic area of their downtown. So much unique history to bring back there from the "old days" feel that was apart of this island's past.:

 

 

 

 

 

Here is one item of photo proof for the loud, loud drum action as the parade/procession was starting with the "straw statute" to go to the beach on St. Barts. It was great fun and a super experience to capture samples from these different Carnival examples at three different Caribbean islands. Each location was varied and very special in their own ways.: