Ahhhhh I am still reeling from Trinidad carnival. The tabanca is toooo real!! I had THE best time and experience and will try to capture in words; but it is an experience that you need to have on your own!
I will admit the planning and logistics of carnival had my excitement level somewhat low, but as soon as I touched down that all changed. The vibes were at an all-time high all week long, and while I write this a week later they are still on a high.
The first fete we went to was _uck work. And it was a VIBE. I got to see a lot of my friends from Miami, it was a reunion. The fete started a little late, but as soon as it started the vibes went all the way to the end and I was not ready for it to finish. The rest of my crew was arriving later that evening, and they would be waiting for us to arrive back home after the fete. We were now all together and it was now time to turn up! Our first fete together was the M.C. Boat Experience, and it was just that, an experience. It was a smaller boat so it was a more intimate vibe, but it was still a vibe! This fete was a great way to kick off carnival for my crew, they got to whine up to the sweet sounds of soca while sailing the Caribbean Sea.
We didn’t have an extensive fete list since it was all of our first time in Trinidad for Carnival, and their first time at a Caribbean anything. I planned our fete list so that we would have a fete a day and if we wanted to do something after we could. I also made sure we had plenty of time to rest. I know, I know, you’re thinking carnival and rest do not belong in the same sentence. However, the older I get the more I value my sleep, and I am sure they appreciated the scheduled sleep time as well. It was much needed for what was to come!
At last, the days we longed for finally arrived, Carnival! Carnival in Trinidad last two days, Monday and Tuesday. Monday and Tuesday are the same with the exception of costumes, Monday’s costume is called Monday wear. Monday wear can be anything from a bathing suit to a designed costume; if you have costumes from previous carnivals, you could wear that on Monday as well. As a group we all wanted to wear neon colored bathing suits that would pop against our melanin skin.
We took some pictures and we were on our way. The sun was hot, the music blaring from the trucks, and the rum was flowing….at last carnival come back, carnival come back again, happy carnival to you… was playing. It was a long day that began around 10am and ended around 10pm. According to my fitbit I had over 39,000 steps, and the next day I would do it all over again. As the day ended we tried to get as much rest as we can because Tuesday we would start at 7:30am. It was 5:30am and we had two hours before we had to be at the meeting point and everyone was still sleeping. *Long sigh* didn’t they know it was Carnival Tuesday? and that we had two hours to get ready and to be at the meeting point? I decided to blast some soca music through the loud speakers to get everyone up! It worked! We started getting ready, we helped one another tie on our wrist and arm bands and secure our bras so that there would be no malfunctions on the road, and apply body tattoos. And just like that it was time to go. We took some group photos and we were on the way. It would be the last time I would see most of my squad because we were in two different bands.
I still couldn’t believe this day finally came. Not only was I awaiting this day since the planning commenced, but I had been waiting for this day for years. It felt like the week had flown by so I knew I had to cherish every moment. The sun was HOTT and burning my skin, but I did not care because soca was playing and I was enjoying the sweet sounds of Kes & Iwer blare through the speakers telling me to ‘mash it up, shell it down, and turn it over.’ I crossed the stage for the second time and soaked up every minute. Before I knew it, it was lunch time and I needed something in my belly and to sit down if I was going fete into the night.
As night started to fall and we were nearing the end into last lap. Last lap is a big field area they have that all the masqueraders from the Tribe family come together for one last jump up before carnival is officially over. That is where I met up with the rest of my crew, and just like that carnival was over. We reached home and I tell you I wanted just ONE more day on the road! I glanced at my fitbit and I had over 40,000 steps, what a day!
It was Wednesday and it was our last day on the beautiful island of T&T *insert sad face*. We decided to head to Maracas beach to relax and soak up the sun one last time before returning home to 30 degree weather. Maracas was a vibe, the scenery was beautiful. My friend recommended that I go to Richards on the beach because they have the best Bake and Shark, and that is just what I did and boy was it good! And it was the perfect way to end the carnival season in Trinidad and kick off the carnival season for the rest of the world!
Stay tuned for part two where I tell you how we prepared.
Leave a comment and tell me what carnivals you will be attending this year, or if you attended Trinidad Carnival this year what was your favorite fete.
Takiyah Travels 