The annual Carnaval in Barranquilla, Colombia is one of the largest and most diverse celebrations in the world. It's also one of the loudest, messiest, and most fun. This year, team Curious and four intrepid friends ventured into the fray and found ourselves immersed in a nonstop party. What follows is just a sampling of what went down
Most of the year, Barranquilla is an industrial port town, but it is evident from ubiquitous advertisements, carnaval merch and the excitement that grips the city that the four days of Carnaval are the highlight of the year.
The lovely Lady M gets into the spirit.
The crew, chilling with Marimonda, the phallic, elephant-eared mascot of the festivities. Our Ho-Jo hotel, though quadrupled in price for the weekend, greeted us with cuba libres, wearable shot glasses, and a live band.
On our way to the party, just some caballos kicking it in a drainage ditch.
Actually navigating the festivities was a little tricky. Our gang got tickets to sit in a grandstand (well, lets just call them bleachers) but no one seemed to have any idea where these bleachers might be. The cop pictured here knew next to nada!
Turns out, all we had to do was descend into the ditch de caballos and take a left. Got to watch out for the shakedown ladder climbing fee.
The party was already well under way by the time we got seated.
The first day of Carnaval is the biggest, and features the Battle of the Flowers.
Nothing to see here but a giant eagle.
Feathers!
Lady M and Lady A demonstrating the proper consumption of aquardiente via wearable shot glasses.
Nice Kitty.
Las culebras
Yep.
Los Hombres!
Carnaval revelers really enjoy spraying one another with foam. They really, REALLY like it.
Carnaval Behind the scenes: Thar be arepas!
Three amigos, properly initiated into the world of carnival, feeling right at home.
Of course, there is one major element missing from this post, and that is MUSIC! We've got video coming of all the music, dancing, stilt walkers, giants snakes and flying foam which have solidified Barranquilla's Carnaval as a UNESCO "Masterpeice of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity." Stay posted!
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