Last Day of Carnaval Ended with More Painting, Dancing and Egg Throwing.

These kids were seriously covered in some  paint.

Tuesday  was the last day of Carnaval so Bill, our friend Gigi and I headed back downtown to join in on the fun again.  There were more comparsas dancers dancing in the street. 

They were dressed in Maya costumes.  Bill asked if he could join them next year.

The Maya dancers had some fabulous costumes.

This one was my favorite, love the peacock feather headdress.

It was some messy fun, but these kids were loving it.

This guy was re-filling his paint bottle.

He was protecting his hair from paint.  I hear it is kind of hard to get out of your hair.

Even a few gringos managed to get in on the paint fun.  She was not very happy with her husband.

One brave little guy gave me a nice high five of yellow paint.

We will just call him "Blue Man".

Later in the evening the crowds were getting bigger and the dancing was getting wilder.  These cross-dressing dancers were something to see.  I feel certain the stores in San Pedro are having a balloon shortage today.

Two of my little friends somehow managed to be out during Carnaval and didn't get any paint on them.

He told me he didn't have any paint.

My sweet little friend here was having to work.  She was selling her mother's banana bread.  We bought some from her. 

There will be some cleaning up today I am sure. 

Thanks for a great 2012 Carnaval, see ya next year.

Carnaval San Pedro Style

Bill and I have been to Mardi Gras Carnival in New Orleans many times before and when we heard that Sunday started the first day of Carnaval in San Pedro, Belize we knew we had to go downtown and check it out.  I had heard a little bit about what goes on during Carnaval in San Pedro already.  There is lots of comparsas dancing in the streets and painting going on.  The town had already covered the benches in the park and sides of the buildings with plastic.  I assumed to protect them from paint, even the new clock tower was draped with a nice blue tarp.  They said the men dress like woman and the woman dress like men.   I was really not so sure what that is all about, but it was definitely worth going just to take a look.

We headed down to Front Street to see where all the action was and immediately we could hear the music blaring in the streets. As we rode our bikes closer dodging people and golf carts parked in the street, we saw what looked like some rather unusual dressed people dancing in the streets. 

The San Pedro AIDS commission sponsored this group of revelers.

It kind of reminds me of people at the Mardi Gras Carnivals in New Orleans that we have been to.

Just look at these beauties.

Next we headed down to Middle Street where we found another group of comparsas dancers dressed as Mennonites.  There is a large Mennonite community on the mainland of Belize in Spanish Outlook.

The kids were also having a great time.  They were running about the streets with bottles filled with paint and water looking for their next victim to cover in paint.  It was fun for all ages.
                                               

Eggs were also involved.

This is my little friend from the water taxi and her brother.

Once the kids were all covered in paint, they would run down and get in the water and wash off some of the paint just to go back and and get ready for more.  My little granddaughter Betty would love to get in on some of this kind of fun. 

The painting and dancing in the streets goes on until Tuesday.  I plan on going back...and who knows maybe I will get in on some of the paint action.