View hi-res images on our slideshow page. | This was a beautiful day. Every Sunday in February, people in a few cities in the Dominican Republic celebrate Carnaval, with the largest celebration in La Vega. I took a lot of video in that city, but wanted to get a few pics on here right away -- I'll post the videos soon, I hope. Below are the photos in a higher resolution slideshow. |
The Carnaval here is much like those in South America and even in New Orleans. I saw about a dozen staging areas, mostly sponsored setups with bleachers in front of restaurants and stores. In front of each was an elevated runway where the costumed characters paraded.
The fun begins at about 2 p.m. each Sunday. The characters in their frighteningly beautiful costumes prance down the street, interacting with the crowd in two ways. First, posing with everyone for photographs, and second, whacking them on the rearend with what looks like Nerf balls on ropes.
This is why each group, or "comparsa" has a few bodyguards, because even though most people know it's all for fun, these guys can really nail you, and it stings, and surely some guy will get pissed and lunge at a character, and then it's gloves off all around because everyone is drinking, and then it all goes on YouTube.
Other than the characters -- which really are frightening and beautiful at the same time -- the loud salsa and merengue music, the cheap beer and food, Carnaval in the Dominican Republic is a lot like many other street festivals.
The fun begins at about 2 p.m. each Sunday. The characters in their frighteningly beautiful costumes prance down the street, interacting with the crowd in two ways. First, posing with everyone for photographs, and second, whacking them on the rearend with what looks like Nerf balls on ropes.
This is why each group, or "comparsa" has a few bodyguards, because even though most people know it's all for fun, these guys can really nail you, and it stings, and surely some guy will get pissed and lunge at a character, and then it's gloves off all around because everyone is drinking, and then it all goes on YouTube.
Other than the characters -- which really are frightening and beautiful at the same time -- the loud salsa and merengue music, the cheap beer and food, Carnaval in the Dominican Republic is a lot like many other street festivals.