Martinique Carnaval 2008

Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) is the day to dress in red.

2009-01-15T21:05:32Z

civex
Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) is the day to dress in red.

Marching in front of the Sapeur Pompiers.

2009-01-15T23:56:40Z

civex
Marching in front of the Sapeur Pompiers.

Mirrored red suits and full head coverings were de rigeur on Mardi Gras.

2009-01-15T21:09:01Z

civex
Mirrored red suits and full head coverings were de rigeur on Mardi Gras.

Another shot of this red devil.

2009-01-15T21:11:36Z

civex
Another shot of this red devil.

These cute little flower girls were part of the parade on Tuesday.

2009-01-15T23:52:40Z

civex
These cute little flower girls were part of the parade on Tuesday.

I have no clue what these women were supposed to be, but they were lovely.

2009-01-15T21:07:21Z

civex
I have no clue what these women were supposed to be, but they were lovely.

One of the lovely paraders.

2009-01-15T21:07:07Z

civex
One of the lovely paraders.

More wonderful costumes.

2009-01-15T21:07:18Z

civex
More wonderful costumes.

These samba dancers were among our favorites on Tuesday.

2009-01-15T23:59:15Z

civex
These samba dancers were among our favorites on Tuesday.

Some lucky devils got to ride on a float.

2009-01-15T21:05:47Z

civex
Some lucky devils got to ride on a float.

What a head of hair!

2009-01-15T21:17:05Z

civex
What a head of hair!

Red devils ran rampant in the rues of Fort de France.

2009-01-15T21:07:26Z

civex
Red devils ran rampant in the rues of Fort de France.

People had a good time, and it showed. Great fabric on these costumes.

2009-01-15T21:10:50Z

civex
People had a good time, and it showed. Great fabric on these costumes.

The unhappiest boy in all of France.

2009-01-15T21:11:40Z

civex
The unhappiest boy in all of France.

Joie de vivre personified.

2009-01-15T21:09:08Z

civex
Joie de vivre personified.

Wonderful costumes on these paraders.

2009-01-15T21:07:27Z

civex
Wonderful costumes on these paraders.

Carla, of course, was the recently wed wife of the President of France. She was the butt of many jokes in the parades.

2009-01-15T21:11:23Z

civex
Carla, of course, was the recently wed wife of the President of France. She was the butt of many jokes in the parades.

There was an unending flow of vibrant costumes worn by vibrating revelers.

2009-01-15T21:06:42Z

civex
There was an unending flow of vibrant costumes worn by vibrating revelers.

Graceful paraders.

2009-01-15T21:13:05Z

civex
Graceful paraders.

After the somber reds of Mardi Gras, we moved to the vibrant blacks and whites of Ash Wednesday.

2009-01-15T21:22:33Z

civex
After the somber reds of Mardi Gras, we moved to the vibrant blacks and whites of Ash Wednesday.

These were great dancers with a great group of drummers.

2009-01-15T23:55:41Z

civex
These were great dancers with a great group of drummers.

These molasses-coated men are excellent at crowd control, as you may be able to tell from the scream.

2009-01-15T23:59:49Z

civex
These molasses-coated men are excellent at crowd control, as you may be able to tell from the scream.

Professional photographers, and a great T-shirt.

2009-01-15T23:29:43Z

civex
Professional photographers, and a great T-shirt.

The professional photographers all know the tricks and secrets of the trade - where to get roasted peanuts, what to do with the shell. God, I envy those guys.

2009-01-15T23:27:54Z

civex
The professional photographers all know the tricks and secrets of the trade - where to get roasted peanuts, what to do with the shell. God, I envy those guys.

They even know how to wear a cap. External flashes, black vests. I'm green with envy.

2009-01-15T23:24:47Z

civex
They even know how to wear a cap. External flashes, black vests. I'm green with envy.

Paraders on Ash Wednesday.

2009-01-15T21:20:43Z

civex
Paraders on Ash Wednesday.

One of the more lovely people watching the parade.

2009-01-15T21:20:57Z

civex
One of the more lovely people watching the parade.

Glitter was in evidence during the Ash Wednesday parade.

2009-01-15T21:22:23Z

civex
Glitter was in evidence during the Ash Wednesday parade.

A lovely couple of women who let me take close-ups of them.

2009-01-15T21:22:13Z

civex
A lovely couple of women who let me take close-ups of them.

Martinique is the only Caribbean island to celebrate Ash Wednesday. All the other places stop at Fat Tuesday. Ash Wednesday, it turns out, is used to celebrate the burning of Vaval, a pagan ...

2009-01-15T21:19:35Z

civex
Martinique is the only Caribbean island to celebrate Ash Wednesday. All the other places stop at Fat Tuesday. Ash Wednesday, it turns out, is used to celebrate the burning of Vaval, a pagan ...

The bakoua is a local hat similar to a Mexican sombrero, and these dancers really shake their bakouas.

2009-01-15T23:59:34Z

civex
The bakoua is a local hat similar to a Mexican sombrero, and these dancers really shake their bakouas.

Another photo of the lovely reveler.

2009-01-15T21:18:30Z

civex
Another photo of the lovely reveler.

Women with big hoops are appealing to some people, so here you go.

2009-01-15T21:19:55Z

civex
Women with big hoops are appealing to some people, so here you go.

A gorgeous woman who posed for me along the route.

2009-01-15T21:18:58Z

civex
A gorgeous woman who posed for me along the route.

A lot of great haircuts show up during Carnaval.

2009-01-15T21:18:28Z

civex
A lot of great haircuts show up during Carnaval.

A traditional costume with gold shoes. (Although this is not a traditional madras pattern because it's in black and white, madras is widely adopted on Martinique. After slavery was truly abo ...

2009-01-15T21:17:07Z

civex
A traditional costume with gold shoes. (Although this is not a traditional madras pattern because it's in black and white, madras is widely adopted on Martinique. After slavery was truly abo ...

Another view of a gorgeous woman.

2009-01-15T21:17:49Z

civex
Another view of a gorgeous woman.

More traditional finery on Ash Wednesday.

2009-01-15T21:17:51Z

civex
More traditional finery on Ash Wednesday.

These drummers were really knocked my socks off.

2009-01-15T23:51:41Z

civex
These drummers were really knocked my socks off.

The smiling faces are very attractive on this lovely island.

2009-01-15T21:14:12Z

civex
The smiling faces are very attractive on this lovely island.

Sometimes the parades get a little long for the paraders, who have been marching and reveling for quite some time.

2009-01-15T21:15:58Z

civex
Sometimes the parades get a little long for the paraders, who have been marching and reveling for quite some time.

I'm happy to say that people of all ages enjoy the parade and get into the festival spirit.

2009-01-15T21:15:28Z

civex
I'm happy to say that people of all ages enjoy the parade and get into the festival spirit.

The radiance of happiness is contagious.

2009-01-15T21:13:22Z

civex
The radiance of happiness is contagious.

Traditional constumes adapted to black and white.

2009-01-15T21:13:27Z

civex
Traditional constumes adapted to black and white.

Less traditional costumes adapted to Ash Wednesday.

2009-01-15T21:15:33Z

civex
Less traditional costumes adapted to Ash Wednesday.

Faces of the people of Martinique.

2009-01-15T21:11:09Z

civex
Faces of the people of Martinique.

We always need more cowbell.

2009-01-15T21:11:13Z

civex
We always need more cowbell.

But then again, we always need more booty.

2009-01-15T21:11:16Z

civex
But then again, we always need more booty.

Another great face.

2009-01-15T21:11:36Z

civex
Another great face.

I discovered we can all look great in a leotard.

2009-01-15T21:08:45Z

civex
I discovered we can all look great in a leotard.

More adaptations of traditional garb.

2009-01-15T21:07:23Z

civex
More adaptations of traditional garb.

More great face.

2009-01-15T21:08:33Z

civex
More great face.

Madam Death awaits you. The burning of Vaval will come in the evening.

2009-01-15T20:59:29Z

civex
Madam Death awaits you. The burning of Vaval will come in the evening.

The lady mourners.

2009-01-15T21:00:17Z

civex
The lady mourners.

The loveliest mourner of them all.

2009-01-15T21:00:34Z

civex
The loveliest mourner of them all.

The widows of Vaval.

2009-01-15T20:59:53Z

civex
The widows of Vaval.

This guy was the on-air personality for RFO television, and he got to interview lots of people in the parade.

2009-01-15T20:59:49Z

civex
This guy was the on-air personality for RFO television, and he got to interview lots of people in the parade.

This band may look familiar - we caught them on the other side playing cowbell, and now they are going around again.

2009-01-15T20:49:08Z

civex
This band may look familiar - we caught them on the other side playing cowbell, and now they are going around again.

Not only do we look great in leotards, we look great in shear harem pants, too! Notice the parade security trying to push us back.

2009-01-15T20:50:27Z

civex
Not only do we look great in leotards, we look great in shear harem pants, too! Notice the parade security trying to push us back.

The coneheads have invaded Martinique, and they're blowing their own horns.

2009-01-15T20:49:03Z

civex
The coneheads have invaded Martinique, and they're blowing their own horns.

Ladies in traditional creole hats adapted for Ash Wednesday. Usually the hats are a colorful madras plaid, and there are myths about the meaning of the poufs on top, but those days are long ...

2009-01-15T20:44:24Z

civex
Ladies in traditional creole hats adapted for Ash Wednesday. Usually the hats are a colorful madras plaid, and there are myths about the meaning of the poufs on top, but those days are long ...

I suggest if you take the ferry that you go over for lunch. We took one ferry around 3:00 PM, and the first one that came by never even tied up. There were several dozen people waiting the f ...

2009-01-13T18:41:43Z

civex
I suggest if you take the ferry that you go over for lunch. We took one ferry around 3:00 PM, and the first one that came by never even tied up. There were several dozen people waiting the f ...

The view of Fort de France as you leave at sunset is very lovely.

2009-01-13T18:41:26Z

civex
The view of Fort de France as you leave at sunset is very lovely.

Yes, it showered briefly during the parade on Ash Wednesday, but it only paused things, and it didn't stop the parade.

2009-01-13T18:41:17Z

civex
Yes, it showered briefly during the parade on Ash Wednesday, but it only paused things, and it didn't stop the parade.

Another of the participants, this one on a float during the Ash Wednesday parade.

2009-01-13T18:26:24Z

civex
Another of the participants, this one on a float during the Ash Wednesday parade.

civex's photo

2009-01-13T18:23:49Z

civex

civex's photo

2009-01-13T18:26:55Z

civex