After a nap we returned to town around 1:00pm to watch the next Mas. The Pageant Mas reminded me a bit more of a high energy home town parade. It again involved the massive sound systems of the DJ Trucks playing a mix of the same 4 songs, followed by extravagantly costumed groups singing and dancing and representing different themes. This parade is also open to anyone who would like to purchase a costume and join in with one of the bands. A number of cruisers, who were staying at the Port Louis Marina, did just that. We walked the parade route and took quite a few pictures before settling down at a spot near one of the judges’ stations along the route. We were dazzled by the creativity and vibrant colors of the costumes some of which are quite elaborate. Everyone including small children walks the entire parade route in the same rhythmic small steps stopping to shake, shimmy, and gyrate along the way. Some of the women did this all in high heels, Yikes! The atmosphere was festive, the people beautiful, and the entire performance was repeated again the following day for the final judging, in even higher heat, with many of the previous days’ high heeled beauties now sporting tennis shoes. I wondered how long they could hold out!
Tag: Carnival
Jouvert Mas
On Sunday morning we stocked up on a few groceries as stores all shut down for the last 2 days of Carnival. Ester, the clerk at Foodland, asked us if we would be attending Mas……now to me I did not think Carnival was affiliated with the Catholic Faith so I asked her what it was. Mas as it turns out are parades and street parties that take place during Carnival, Grenada’s summer festival. Flatbed trucks are outfitted with enormous sound systems, followed by roving bands of people singing and gyrating to thunderous rhythms. Each band is sponsored by different local businesses. We were informed that the first of the Mas Parades began at 5:00am on Monday morning. We set the alarm for 3:30am and put on some old clothes. We joined others in the streets some of who it was obvious had been up all night. We grabbed a couple of beers and downed a shot of rum. This has to go on record as the earliest in the day I have ever started drinking! The DJ trucks were keying up the music followed by pickups carrying large vats of different color body paint. Each band of Jab Jabs was represented by a different color. The Jab Jabs (or devils) main goal is to catch unsuspecting persons and smear them with paint, hence the old clothes, or in some cases used motor oil…..we tried to avoid those guys, we were only partially successful. The crowds were an amazing, sometimes hilarious mix of party goers all enjoying themselves and happily mugging for the camera. After the first couple of smears of paint, I took the old point and shoot into the crowd and tried to capture some of the spirit of this high energy event. After enjoying this Halloween Rave on Steroids the sun peaked over the island and the end of the parade passed us by. We made our way back to DD for a swim and a scrub with the loofa to erase from our bodies but not our memories the experience of this unique introduction to Carnival Mas.
Back for Carnival
We reluctantly left our new friends Ellen and Jim from s/v Boldly Go….sitting on the hard at the Carriacou boat yard to do repaint the bottom of their boat and do all those out of the water maintenance issues. We feel for them Yuck! But we had to return to Grenada after all….Carnival was happening. We made our way down the leeward coast of Grenada and anchored just outside of St. George where we will stay for the duration of Carnival. We contacted the Al Bernadine and dropped off our Alternator for repair, yet again, and then called and checked on the status of our Auto Helm. Herve the Service Tech here on Grenada says he is expecting the parts by the end of the month at the latest but is hoping they will arrive by next week. There are a number of events that take place over the days leading up to Carninval, a beauty contest, as well as Soca, Calypso, and Pan competions. We attended Pantastic, the Steel Pan Competion on Saturday Night and enjoyed a number of talented bands comprised of both young and old as well as Vocals by The Black Wizard a local popular musician.
Living the Dream 