February-4 2006

February 2006
Finding ourselves I Guadeloupe next to another Sunday Carnival procession was an unexpected bonus. The groups came from all over the island and formed up in Riviere Sens close to the marina so that they could parade along the road to Basse Terre to the North. We positioned ourselves on a flyover where the groups moved passed us and then under us as they headed round the clover leaf. The first group had an incense burner and lots of lads with long whips which they cracked to frighten evil spirits! Very skilled!

The day was a very hot one and we had already walked their route to Basse Terre without having to dance or play musical instruments on the way. We suspected that it was the excitement of the day that kept them going in the heat. Marshalling the entire procession was very difficult and the groups had to have routines and signals for stopping and starting without interrupting the flow of dancing and music. It was totally impossible not to find yourself moving constantly with the music and drums and we were very tired the next day. As in St Pierre the themes around volcanoes were very common, not surprising perhaps in islands with volcanic uncertainties as a part of everyday life.

Sadly, we have been moving out of the carnival belt but we have enjoyed these two encounters tremendously. From here we moved to an isolated and calm anchorage and then to Antigua.