Re: La Vega: Carnival 2010
Re: La Vega: Carnival 2010
As well as lots of chicas, there were lots of monsters (probably more monsters than chicas):
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Each band of monsters had security guards to herd them.
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Most bands of monsters were preceded by banners showing the name of group and often who had sponsored them:
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Most of the monsters were large and frightening:
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A few of the monsters were small, and one or two even cuddly:
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The monsters would often whack the spectators on the ass with their heavy rubber balloons. It doesn't actually hurt, but after two or three hours the buttocks start to feel real sore.
Usually the monsters would home in on the pretty girls to whack their asses. You can't blame them. It is hot and tiring work tramping the streets wearing a heavy costume and with a mask on your face. They are entitled to some perks.
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Look out, Seņorita Blue Shirt! He's behind you and closing fast, and his "minder" is obviously encouraging him to go for your ass!
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Many chicas hid in the crowd for safety:
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This gallant young tiguere has pushed his chica to one side and is taking the hit in her place. At least, I hope that is all he is taking because that pink monster looks gay.
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Sometimes the monsters and the pretty girls seemed to get along just fine. Maybe these particular girls enjoy a good ass-whacking?
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If there was no pretty girl available the monsters would whack anyone else in range. This lady in the white shirt looks apprehensive, and with good reason:
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Occasionally the "monster security guards" were chicas. I had been trying to photograph this chica when one of her herd noticed and charged at me. (Maybe he was her novio.) That was frightening, especially as I had noticed that the monsters would "accidentally on purpose" whack guys who had annoyed them in the nuts. Now that does hurt!
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Re: La Vega: Carnival 2010
As well as chicas and monsters, there were drummers:
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There were guys on stilts, and they were really shifting:
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Although I saw them coming they flashed past too quickly even for the advanced technology of my Kodak ($US32 on eBay) to get a decent picture.
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There was a giant scorpion:
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There was a dancing nun. She danced reggaeton in a religious frenzy. I tried to video her but everytime I pointed the camera she froze, thinking to oblige me.
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In fact, the only music I heard all afternoon was reggaeton. Impromptu groups formed and danced while waiting for events to start. Now reggaeton is obviously ideal for the frenzied atmosphere of carnival, but it is neither traditional nor Dominican in origin, so I wonder what music was played a couple of decades ago before reggaeton reached the island?
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JimmyDR's love children were there, begging. I am sure that, had they not been mute, they would have been asking "When is daddy coming back to the DR?"
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Jimbo's were there too:
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Most of the monsters' costumes were detailed and sumptuous, major efforts of dressmaking:
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Some were more cursory:
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I particularly like these, maybe because they reminded me of Guy Fawkes back in the old country.
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Or because there was a sense of mischievous humour about them:
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There were some evil Popes (or is that a tautology?):
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These guys were clearly inspired by the kings in a pack of playing cards:
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This is how the carnival hats should be worn, jaunty and erect:
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But this gentleman's hat could clearly benefit from a dose of Viagra:
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I flirted a lot with these two. I shall call them "Class" and "Ass".
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The street was lined with viewing stands sponsored by local and national companies. Very often those in the stands wore matching t-shirts, so perhaps they were employees and customers of those companies?
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The MC and DJ worked high up in this temporary gantry. Careful guys, it was erected by Dominicans!
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This is the main square of La Vega. It was from here that I was told the parade would start. I thought that I was taking all the pics of monsters and other participants as they made their way to this square to assemble in order and then parade round the town along the set route past the spectator stands. I expected to see floats in the parade and perhaps a Carnival Queen. As the afternoon wore on it was clear this was not going to happen and when there was a cloudburst and 90% of the spectators vanished within minutes then it certainly wasn't going to happen. Possibly the parade only happens on the final day of Carnival? If anyone can throw any light on this I would be most grateful as I am strongly considering returning for the "real" parade on that day.
... but see my response to 8orBetter's helpful post:
http://news.insearchofchicas.org/for...3&postcount=12
So in many ways I was disappointed that I did not see what I had come to see, but I did see plenty, and, anyway, that was the least of my immediate worries as my companion and I tramped back to our hotel in a steady downpour. When we arrived at Hotel Gulag we were drenched and cold, but a taxi-ride to a pizzeria and a good hot meal while we shared our long table with an interesting Dominican family (youngish doctor father, attractive young doctor mother, and their seven pretty teenage sisters, one a real stunner) put me back into a better mood.
The main square was being readied for a free concert by Hector Acosta, Frank Reyes, and Omega. Later that evening the concert was already underway as we walked back to our hotel from the restaurant, but it was starting to rain again so we kept on going.
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Re: La Vega: Carnival 2010
Great shots, Weyland.
Everybody should do the Carnival in La Vega. ONCE.
One of my few skirmishes with the law was many years ago when I punched a guy that tried to get me in the nuts with one of those balloons.
Folks love the carnival, but you won't find anybody that thinks the balloon hitting is funny.
The only problem with picking up a sweetie there is that they don't want to leave to go do the deed.
Re: La Vega: Carnival 2010
Weyland
Nice pics.
I know this about La Vega Carnival this Sunday in the Parque is a big parade at 3pm and a party at 8 pm following.
I know the carnival is in full swing there saturday also.
Sunday night some Sergio Vargas singer is in Santiago near monument where there carnival is ending.
I will be there on thursday don't tagg them all before I get there.
PS You need your own paddle as a deterant!
Re: La Vega: Carnival 2010
Excellent thread! Thanks a lot for the pics Weyland. I know that acquiring them was very hard and tiring work.;)
Re: La Vega: Carnival 2010
Sir Weyland,
Thank you for the report. I like seeing other areas of DR and activities that go on in the country. Nice report with a good amount of chicas thrown in.
I think you look Big Pimpin in your hat. Playaaa
Re: La Vega: Carnival 2010
Quote:
Originally Posted by
DCIronman
Excellent thread! Thanks a lot for the pics Weyland. I know that acquiring them was very hard and tiring work.;)
No, but cropping them and uploading them here was, with my slow Dominican connection. It took half the night. Still have a few more pics to add and a bit of tweaking to do.
Re: La Vega: Carnival 2010
Quote:
Originally Posted by
weyland
I think i'm in love.
Re: La Vega: Carnival 2010
WEYLAND
Sunday is the final day of Carnival in la Vega.Big Parade on Sat and Sunday.Here is website.
http://www.adoredominican.com/compon...-carnival.html
the following weekend is the final day for Carnival in Santo Domingo
Re: La Vega: Carnival 2010
Quote:
Originally Posted by
8orBetter
Many thanks. That contradicts what I was told in La Vega but I have more faith in this website.
It also clears up that what I was watching was called an "outing of the Diablo Cojuelos and characters" rather than a parade. It all makes sense now. Funnily enough a neighbour said to me "It will be good for you to go to the Carnival with a Dominican. You will understand what is going on". I don't think so, somehow. Next time I go anywhere new I will go with a haitiana and a laptop and get all-round satisfaction.
Re: La Vega: Carnival 2010
Re: La Vega: Carnival 2010
WEYLAND I think normally it goes another week but lent is a week early for what ever that means.
Re: La Vega: Carnival 2010
Re: La Vega: Carnival 2010
Re: La Vega: Carnival 2010
Re: La Vega: Carnival 2010
Re: La Vega: Carnival 2010
Re: La Vega: Carnival 2010
This looks interesting...
How long does it last? What are the main days?