LA CARNAVAL

Near the Hotel

Shit, It's been a while.
Every great adventure starts out with a travel blog-- then it just becomes your life and suddenly the metaphorical MDMA high just becomes regular...
But hopefully I have something interesting to tell you guys about.
LA CARNAVALLLLL
My mom came the weekend before Carnaval. She stayed in the Hotel Bakuoa (sp?). The hotel is located in Trois Ilets, a highly, highly touristic area of the island. Better off, staying somewhere like Shoelcher or Fort de France might have been dangerous, uncomfortable or over priced. Trois ilets, however, was the shit.

Mom in Costume for Devil Red Fat Tuesday

Stefan and a stranger celebrating

Scaries!

Friends against language barriers

Tout le gang

The hotel resort was an amazing break from the dorm life. There was a continental breakfast, hot water, big nice beds and air conditioning! Amazing what a 10 min bus ride and 15 min boat ride will do for your reality-- I felt like I was on a different island. Plus, mama was here. The week was amazing. We walked around Trois Ilets the first night, at around 2 in the morning, after I met them at the airport (15 min drive= 50 euro). On the Sunday after they arrived, the Carnaval started! There was a huge parade with amazing costumes, decorated beat up cars, cross dressing and caribbean music. The entire festival is a celebration of Caribbean culture, heritage and tradition. The first Sunday was an amazing experience. The rest of the days, however, were less organized. More just like music blasting, drum lines beating and people dancing. It was amazing to see how happy everyone was and how the ENTIRE community participated. It certainly wasn't geared around tourists, and all of us had an amazing time.








Having my mom here was the best thing ever. I got to show off the island I now take claim to knowing pretty well. Explaining to her some of the cultural differences, having her hear me speak French and learning, together, about the little secrets this place has to offer. Wow. I miss her so much and it's amazing how quickly a week flies by. Plus she bought me stuff. Awesome.
Tim bought her, Ines and myself tickets to go on a boat tour. The boat left from Trois Ilets, went to the south around Diamant and back up, explored caves, supplied snorkling gear and food and drink. We left at 9 am and were meant to return around 5. The first three hours were amazing. It felt so natural to boat in the Caribbean.

Natural growth off the of Diamant, now a bird sancutary!

Funn

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Thanks Tim!

Anse D'Arlet

Amazing. Unfortunately, while Ines and I were snorkling, looking at star fish comparable in size to the yaris' tires, the beginnings of a tragedy were beginning to unfold. The boat ran out of snorkles, and had only masks. My mom isn't a very confident swimmer, so she was out with a noodle, and Tim was beside her with just a mask. We were in about 30 feet of water, and Tim began to get tired. Asking for help at first calmly, and then with more panic, his cries were ignored by the boat crew and near by swimmers. I headed over from about 20 yards away and started to help him get to shore, or at least shallow water,  and Ines joined shortly after. After we got to shore, tons of people from all around came over and offered to help. Tim and my mom speak no French, so people were translating left and right and going out of their way to help us. It was amazing what people were willing to do to help. People are people all over the world-- they just speak a different language. Tim couldn't catch his breath, and someone called an ambulance for us. Everyone on the beach tried to help-- getting water, making phone calls, offering help with the French. It was amazing. The ambulance arrived about 45 minutes later (we weren't sure if it was just a panic attack or if he needed medical help). He was in the hospital for about 4 hours, and it was GRIM. People lined the hall ways in their beds, the floor, walls and equipment was dirty. Third world. Terrifying.

On the way to le Francois^

But everyone is okay, and the rest of the week was very tranquil : ) We went to Habitation Clement, a plantation in the east.
It's a rum distillery and nature preserve.