Carnaval 2012

In Oruro, Bolivia, Carnaval is the most important cultural and historical celebration in the calendar.  The city swells with the influx of 3 million visitors and the accommodations are jam packed with Bolivians making this pilgrimage and only a few gringos. The annual parade is based upon the country’s age old folklore tales with over 50,000 dancers and musicians from each corner of the country performing with tight choreography and detailed handmade costumes – such a feast for the eyes and ears!  The parade begins with the dance of the devil and commemorates many Bolivian God’s including the virgin of the mines and honours Pachamama (Mother Earth).  The story unfolds during the day and tells of the fight between good over evil and begins at 7am.  The parade zigzags through the city streets, meaning that the traffic of Oruro grinds to a standstill.  After an exhausting eight hours the performers reach the end of their route, only to do it all again for the next two days! The music, masks and moves were truly amazing. 

Jack managed to nab the last two seats in a grandstand on Bolivar Street – health and safety would have had a shock with this ‘stand’ being held up by thin wire and the only way to get to your seat was up a rackety handmade ladder! But it was in the shade and under the obligatory blue tarpaulin, which shall forever remind me of Bolivia. Anyway, the entrepreneurial beer and food vendors were having a ball (and selling out instantly) while the crowed danced and cheered on the thrumming parade. 

Upon changing into our Carnaval regalia we decided to blag our way into the actual parade, jumping the barriers and joining the performers in their dances and songs. To our surprise, parts of the crowd were cheering us and shouting ‘Jack Sparrow!’ at Jack’s pirate outfit and even wanted photos with us! The police were manning the parade, ‘removing’ rogue revellers, but to our amazement they let us through some sections, mistakenly believing us to be authentic parade performers. What a crazy day! We managed to keep dancing and laughing even at an energy-sapping altitude of 3700m watching the grand finale of the parade at 2am, although the party continued well into sunrise.

Are you ready?

Feast your eyes on this for a party…

Get your glad rags on…

              

And lets PAAAARRRTY!