So I was working on this post before the big news dropped. As far as any new developments on where I (we) are all going: not sure yet. But I’ll update when I know…
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El Gran Carnival La Ceiba is officially, a celebration of Saint Isidore the Laborer, the patron saint of the city. But unofficially, it is an excuse to have a absurdly huge parade and drink and party and dance into the wee hours of the morning.
Photo credits http://www.wolpy.com/places/3608248/photos
The northern city of La Ceiba has the feel of a run-down beach town that was once a hopping vacation spot but now only garners attention on this particular holiday. According to Wikipedia, this particular event is the largest in all of Central America, as far as sheer capacity goes. In 2008, the tourism industry claims there were over 500,000 people in attendance. At first I didn’t believe it was possible to fit that many people into the narrow streets of Ceiba. But witnessing it first hand, I realized they followed the traditional Honduran method of just pushing and shoving, fire codes be damned.
The parade was easily four hours long. Confetti, ladies in feathers, glitter and spandex, lots of dancers and bands and floats. One of my friends even made the comment that the parade people probably just bought all the leftover trinkets and decorations from Mardi Gras and had them sent here to save money.
To say the streets were packed would be an understatement. Body to body, shoulder to sweaty shoulder, we were packed in like sardines. That is, if sardines elected to crowd together in the broiling sun and drip sweat on each other while being doused with warm beer and unintentionally groped by anyone trying to get through the crowd… We also saw more transvestites in one afternoon than I have seen in all my time here in Honduras. Not particularly convincing ones I might add. I don’t know if the carnival atmosphere brings them out or if there are just that many that live in and around La Ceiba.
Anyway, enjoy the pics
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Funky hats: how to look festive without actually having to be festive.
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And yes mom, I wore lots of sunscreen.
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Random karate demonstrations by the Naval Academy (Honduras has a naval academy??). The crowds were so dense that some spectators nearly got kicked in the face.
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Another military organization. I think the tranquility of the banner contrasts greatly with the creepiness of the men in the jeep. Take a closer look:
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That guy is literally aiming a machine gun INTO THE CROWD.
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Dancers from a Garifuna town on the North Coast
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I wasn’t purposely going for the crotch-shot. But we were standing so close to the float that I had to move my feet when the semi tires rolled by.
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That would be Brent’s right hand trying to score some free bead necklaces.
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Its amazing no one in our group got pick-pocketed
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Leg warmers with pom-poms?
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After party in the streets with some real “characters”. ha.
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This Reggae group was from Emily’s hometown of Tornabe and were pretty awesome. They even called her up to the stage for a shout-out!
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-Paz, Sarita
Proud of you for wearing sunscreen!
Love,
Mom