February’s arrival heralds Shrove Tuesday, or “Mardi Gras” as it is known in some quarters. Toss a pancake if you must, as is the British tradition, but there are far better ways to celebrate the beginning of Lent.
You could try New Orleans “Mardi Gras”. The Parades start the week before and are louder and larger than life. I swear I still have whiplash from wearing all those beads when I was there!
Or try Rio at Carnival time. Easily accessible from a cruise offered by Celebrity Cruises or Royal Caribbean, and the trip of a lifetime for sure.
This year I found myself in Panama. Local advice was to stock up with provisions and hibernate from Friday to Wednesday to avoid crowded roads and huge lines in the supermarket and at the beaches. But I am curious and asked where the wildest festivities would be held, and the reply came back: Go to the town of “Penonome”.
This small town in the Cocle province is approx 150 km. (or three hours) west of Panama City on the Pan American highway. Penonome is so insignificant a town that we actually drove right past before realizing we had blinked and had to do the obligatory U-turn. As we drove along the narrow streets, we kept passing families hauling huge coolers, and more ominously – lots of water pistols.
After parking in the last vacant space anywhere, we leapt out and joined the crowds just as the Carnival Princess came into view, on a float pulled by a huge yellow tractor. The Princess had a beautiful Rio-style costume, complete with tiara and ostrich feathers, but we are still puzzled why she had thick knitted stockings on, attractively bunched at the ankles. Obviously a local tradition, we decided.
Following the Princess’s float was a huge water tanker, with youngsters playing the fire hoses over the elated crowds. The cool water was surprisingly welcome in the dust and heat. Then the party really began. Trumpets played, drums beat, and boom boxes were on every corner. Food stalls opened and enterprising locals offered the use of their bathrooms for 50 cents! Sharp-eyed police kept everything in order, checking bags and coolers to ensure everyone remained safe, while they had a great time.
The children were well armed with water pistols, and aimed at every unwary adult. They even had tanks of water that connected to their pistols by tubing…on their backs to save reloading. This is serious business! Wettest of all were those who walked past the trailers of youngsters, who, armed with barrels of water, were literally pouring buckets of water over passers-by. It was wild and crazy and such good fun for all ages.
Carnival. Where will you be next year?
Subscribe to this blog's RSS feed
