Carnival Time

Madness! That is all that can describe a carnival here in Grenada. It starts weeks in advance with parties roaring until the early morning, building up, learning all the songs and then it hits.

Sunday night the part starts at half past midnight and then at 5:30am it is the parade of the 10,000 Jab Jabs or what is called J'ouvert. What are Jab Jabs you ask? Good questions. Something that has evolved from the idea of a devil but what basically involves thousands of people smeared in engine oil and paint wearing horns, pulling chains and having fish in their mouths. The parade winds its way though town in an infusion of Soca music and Rum (even at 5:30am) and as the sun rises they just party harder.

Bring on the Oil!!!

Jarvis, Chris and Lynn

Chris and Sharron trying to avoid getting oily!

... and this is only half way through!

The mass amount of people partying

Horns, chains, buckets... you name it. anything goes!

It was so much fun and wonderful to see a carnival where people don't get stupidly drunk, fall around and destroy things. Just have fun, include each other and celebrate!

We partied until 11:00am, came home, slept and got geared up for the next round that evening which was the parade of the bands however very sadly our bus didn't turn up. No matter, we entered one final pool competition where Jarvis kicked butt and got through to the final, and talked and laughed with all of our friends at Clarkes Court Marina.

The next day it continued for us, however the locals hadn't even stopped - honestly, the most stamina i have ever seen from people partying. Anyways, Tuesday brought around the Pretty Mas, which is the parade of the pageant queens. The most beautiful costumes of colour and feathers representing everything that makes up Grenada. The parade moves through the centre of the capital, St George, and at the pre-set out 'Judging stops' each group dance in full Caribbean hip shaking fashion to the winning Soca and Calypso band music to show why they should be crowned best Pageant band.

Some of the beautiful costumes

So much variety in the parade

We stayed into the late evening bumping into friends, eating amazing bbq pork prepared on the roadside and of course drinking some local rum and had the most amazing night. The atmosphere of everyone on such a high, that feeling that today everything is perfect just spread throughout the city.

I know we have put our date for leaving Grenada back a little bit by staying for Carnival but it was so, so worth it.

Today we have been prepping the boat and doing the usual mad rush through town to provision, get boat bits and pieces and say goodbye to people. Tonight we are going to move around the corner to Prickly bay ready to re-fuel and get water in the morning before we clear out and head off.
We are going to hop along the Venezuelan islands before hitting Bonnaire in about 2 weeks time so until then....

Tia and Jarvis, over and out!