Carnival 2011

We had a blast the weekend before last at Carnival. We attended a cocktail competition at a night club called Zen on Sunday afternoon (a nice chance to see it since we aren't exactly the nightclub type), and early Monday morning we played J'ouvert in the band Chocolate City with some friends. Monday afternoon and Tuesday we watched mas at a local restaurant called Coco Lounge with some other embassy friends. Trinidad's carnival is unique in that it is truly a participatory carnival. Anyone can sign up and play in a band, and there are far more participants than spectators. Nicholas stayed home with Alicia, as not only was it hot, the speaker trucks were blaring socha music at a very unhealthy decibel.





a very popular band called Tribe, that blocked our car in for about an hour when we were trying to leave on Tuesday.

some leaders in each band have more ornate costumes

found an extra headdress

the balcony of coco lounge with friend and neighbor Eniko. in the background is one of the beer trucks

typical costumes

David with our neighbor's sons

the guys seemed to like these girls...

David with one of the marines in front of a steel pan truck

cool costume

The bands' security teams would keep the groups together and let them know when they could cross in front of the judging stand. This was on Carnival Monday where most wear T-shirts instead of their full costumes.

I don't know how this guy could sleep with al the noise.

leading a band to the judging stand

at the cocktail competition

Carnival Monday at Coco Lounge

cooling off after J'ouvert

Chocolate City!