Caribbean Carnivals 2010
This year, in the midst of a recession, I did not budget for any travel. I fully expected to be in the DC-Maryland-Virginia metro area for the entire year. However, a Memorial Day trip home to visit my family in Orlando started a domino effect that I am hard pressed to stop. I forgot, entirely, that Caribbean carnival in Orlando was on Memorial Day weekend, and I found myself, my mom, my 4 year old nephew and my 9 month old neice jumping and dancing and waving! It was so much fun. My neice was dancing in the streets and marveling at the colorful costumes, while my nephew was begging to jump on the trucks and floats.
After that experience, I couldnt wait to go to my first ever DC carnival the following month. The experience was a tad bit different. I went with friends, and it was just about 100 degrees and humid with not even a hint of a breeze. One friend ended up passing out and had to be taken to the hospital by ambulance. Most of the trucks were African, which was very new to me. The crowd was enormous, but the vibe wasnt as jovial as the Orlando carnival. I paid to go into the park following the carnival, and although the food and craft vendors had alot of nice things, the stage was small and I didnt believe that it was worth it.
Early July, I found myself at the Linganore Reggae Wine Festival in Mt. Airy, MD. It was a bit of a drive, but the atmosphere was breathtakingly beautiful. Tents and lawnchairs, and thousands of people enjoying wine and listening to reggae music. It was worth every second, and I will be an avid visitor to these festivals for years to come.
Late July, early August brought me back to Caribana in Toronto, Canada. The last time I went to Caribana was in 2005, with three girlfriends of mine, and I had a total blast. This time the dynamic was different. My cousin, who lives in Toronto, was single during my last visit. This time she is married, with a 2 year old. We went to Caribana together and watched the masqueraders with her 2 year old daughter from the spectators side of the fence (in 2005 we definitely jumped the fence and was jumping and waving with the rest of those playing mas). Caribana is the biggest Caribbean Carnival in North America, and I would suggest the most diverse as well (or that could be Toronto as a whole).
Next month I am traveling to New York for the Labor Day Caribbean Carnival celebration. This will round out my 2010 Carnival experience. I just found a beyond reasonable ticket to Trinidad in March 2011, so I will kick off the year in a country I've never been to, jumping and waving with the originators of the Caribbean Carnival. I think these carnivals will be my new workout regime. It makes me happy and tired, and most importantly, ready for the next one!
After that experience, I couldnt wait to go to my first ever DC carnival the following month. The experience was a tad bit different. I went with friends, and it was just about 100 degrees and humid with not even a hint of a breeze. One friend ended up passing out and had to be taken to the hospital by ambulance. Most of the trucks were African, which was very new to me. The crowd was enormous, but the vibe wasnt as jovial as the Orlando carnival. I paid to go into the park following the carnival, and although the food and craft vendors had alot of nice things, the stage was small and I didnt believe that it was worth it.
Early July, I found myself at the Linganore Reggae Wine Festival in Mt. Airy, MD. It was a bit of a drive, but the atmosphere was breathtakingly beautiful. Tents and lawnchairs, and thousands of people enjoying wine and listening to reggae music. It was worth every second, and I will be an avid visitor to these festivals for years to come.
Late July, early August brought me back to Caribana in Toronto, Canada. The last time I went to Caribana was in 2005, with three girlfriends of mine, and I had a total blast. This time the dynamic was different. My cousin, who lives in Toronto, was single during my last visit. This time she is married, with a 2 year old. We went to Caribana together and watched the masqueraders with her 2 year old daughter from the spectators side of the fence (in 2005 we definitely jumped the fence and was jumping and waving with the rest of those playing mas). Caribana is the biggest Caribbean Carnival in North America, and I would suggest the most diverse as well (or that could be Toronto as a whole).
Next month I am traveling to New York for the Labor Day Caribbean Carnival celebration. This will round out my 2010 Carnival experience. I just found a beyond reasonable ticket to Trinidad in March 2011, so I will kick off the year in a country I've never been to, jumping and waving with the originators of the Caribbean Carnival. I think these carnivals will be my new workout regime. It makes me happy and tired, and most importantly, ready for the next one!
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