This is the start of our 4 day Carnival....a tradition throughout Mexico and the Caribbean that ends on Fat Tuesday, before the beginning of Lent - one great blow out party! This is the scene from the bookstore window last night.....the Puerto town square was packed with people, food, vendors, and a huge stage for a great local band.
The King and Queen of Carnival were paraded around the square in a decorated pickup, throwing treats to the kids. On the basketball court, which subbed for a dance floor last night, all the princesses and princes were crowned as well.
Here is just one couple before they received their crowns....we wish we had more Spanish to tell you the basis for this custom. I will try to find out and add it later. The final couple to be crowned did the first waltz around the floor and then everyone joined them. There were hundreds of people and families here - it is Saturday night and most people have Sunday off - good thing - , as the band didn't even start playing until 10:30...!!
There were so many lights it was hard to get a decent pic, but you can get an idea of the numbers from this one. Sun night the next party is in the Colonia - our neighbourhood - in the zocolo, Monday is back in Puerto and Tuesday, the finale, is in the Colonia again.
Diane, the owner of Mama's Bakery, and an Animal Rescue Queen, nursed a tropical mockingbird from birth to adulthood, so it still comes to the bakery for treats from her.
