Day 4 - CARNIVAL!

There is a fourteen day celebration in Palmares known as the celebration of Carnival. The inspiration for this celebration is Carnival in Brazil, and the celebration in Palmares is one of the best and largest in Costa Rica. People from all over the country come to witness the parade. I don't think it is any secret that the people of Central America know how to party and enjoy themselves. And when beer is plentiful, other things follow.......

But what I enjoy is the vivacity and the excitement. I traveled into Palmares with a family with three children and a mother and daughter traveling together, all of whom I met at Vista del Valle. In keeping with the popular policy of Central America, which is to cram as many people as possible into a single vehicle, we had to persuade our driver to allow all of us to fit in his small SUV. With some effort and ingenuity we managed to fit nine people into a vehicle with five seats, under the condition that some of us would hit the floor if we encountered a policeman. This made for a slightly tense and hilarious ride, with people ducking their heads in panic whenever a policeman was thought to be near.

By all reports the parade was supposed to begin at 6 pm. But after an hour of waiting we decided to abandon our post and go in search of food. Walking along the street, savoring chicken skewers grilled street-side, I was completely immersed in observing the people and the activity. The scene was much like that of a state fair in the US. Vendors along the street selling food, the typical "Pirate Ship" ride and bumper cars. Loud music blaring and announcers shouting into microphones held too close to their mouths, making everything they said incomprehensible. The spirit was infectious.

The parade included floats advertising Coca-Cola ridden by women in short red skirts and knee-high black boots; traditional dancers and drummers in sequined and feathered costumes; fire trucks and sports cars (including a Porsche and a Jaguar); and children in costume with giant paper-mache masks.