February 8th, 2016
A trip into nearby Guaymas to celebrate Carnival.
About Carnival
Carnival is a Christian festive season that occurs before the Christian season of Lent. The main events typically occur during February or early March, during the period historically known as Shrovetide (or Pre-Lent). Carnival typically involves a public celebration and/or parade combining some elements of a circus, masks and public street party. People wear masks and costumes during many such celebrations, allowing them to lose their everyday individuality and experience a heightened sense of social unity. Excessive consumption of alcohol, meat, and other foods proscribed during Lent is extremely common. Other common features of carnival include mock battles such as food fights; social satire and mockery of authorities; the grotesque body displaying exaggerated features especially large noses, bellies, mouths, and phalli or elements of animal bodies; abusive language and degrading acts; depictions of disease and gleeful death; and a general reversal of everyday rules and norms.
What happened…
Amanda writes:Sometimes when we get really comfortable we just … live life I guess and forget to be tourists. It’s easy to fall into that rhythm when in San Carlos because our schedules are so busy with pickle ball, softball and endless parties … add to that our desire to spend lots of time with these dogs and we never leave town. Last year we didn’t attend Carnival and this year I really wanted to check it out. It’s a bit harder for us on the bikes because it takes a long time to get to Guaymas (30 minutes on the bus). So when our friends Jo and Murray said they were going and we could tag along, I was all over it. Andrew wasn’t convinced but I think he was happy he went.
There were so many people and while the parade started late it was worth it. Costumes, floats, music and loud loud music. It was fabulous. The parade was a couple of hours and it was only towards the end that some of the performers seemed to be losing their enthusiasm. After the parade we walked down to the malecon and checked out the rides. There again loads of people, parties and loud music. I had a fabulous time and I’m glad we went.
Andrew writes:When Amanda first announced that she was going to Carnival with our friends, I was fully prepared to hunker down and play video games for a few hours. I’m really glad that I chose to go into Guaymas and join the party. It was incredible! Guaymas is a fair-sized city, and they really know how to put on a show!
We arrived at about 1600hrs, and found a place to stand in order to watch the parade roll by. We were up on a sidewalk, perhaps in the middle of the route. By the time the first dancers reached us it was about 1830hrs. That was a lot of standing around but well worth it. Dozens of dance troupes, and floats passed by us. As the night wore on, the crowds began to press closer and closer to where the parade was, so while we started with “front-row” seats, we ended up being about 6 rows back. I moved right to the front to take pictures. They don’t do justice to the spectacle that is carnival though. It’s full of colour, and light, and joy!
The parade lasted about 3 hours, and then we walked along the malecon, past some amusement park rides, and grabbed some food from street vendors. Finally, we decided to call it quits and head home. My ears were ringing, my voice was hoarse from screaming, and I was so happy to have experienced such a wonderful night.