I knew something was up when, on our way to Balandra Beach one day, we were passed by multiple trucks, laden and stacked, wrapped in brightly covered vinyl. Some were stacked so high with stuff they looked like they might spill over in a corner.
It turns out these trucks were the Carnies, exiting the ferry and making their way down into town. Over the next few days the main street along the beach transformed. The road was lined on both sided with wild colored carnival tents, selling food, toys, games, and excitement. Dirt lots crammed with giant Ferris Wheels, Carousels, and all the other rides you see at fairs in the states. Only they could pack a fairs-worth of rides into an acre. And there were at least 3 such lots.
The theme of this year's Carnaval was el jeugo de la vida- the game of life. We saw a lot of playing-card themes, chess themes, dice themes... but I am not sure of the theme of this float. Ideas?
Carnaval meant huge, tightly-packed crowds.
Speaking of huge, they popped this little band stand up literally overnight. It was a half block from my house. When Marco Antonio Solis came to sing, our bedroom was basically the upper deck of his giant concert.
Our street was closed down and, when I tried to get back in, I had to persuade the cops to let me through. It took four different tries and near-tears of frustration before one cop was like, okay, this lady is about to lose it. We better let her through. Thank goodness for the international language of a woman in distress.
Axel's school had a lot of Carnaval-related festivities. The mamas made these decorative masks for the school carnival.
And, apparently, I was supposed to make a make a mask for Axel to be in a parade. They did a coordinated dance.
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