Carnaval de Barranquilla

Two hours drive from Cartagena is the commercial/industrial city of Barranquilla. It looks a lot like a North West mining town in Western Australia with dusty, dirty roads and prison-like buildings.

But for three days every year Barranquilla is transformed into  fantasy wonderland with music, parades and partying. And, oh boy, do Colombians know how to party!

I've been to a few parades and Mardi Gras in my life but nothing even comes close to the Carnaval. Seven kilometres of exotically (and occasionaly erotically) decorated South Americans, floats and musicians danced and pranced their way past our stand. We were lucky enough to have seats in teh police stand.

Colombians proud of their mixed heritage and their Carnaval, which originated when slaves were given a day off. They love life and they love people. We danced together in the stands, we hugged and photographed each other despite language barriers.

A Colombian lady charged up to me mid way through the parade and insisted we be photographed together. We had exchanged glances in ten stands earlier in the day and had photographed each other. Displays of human kindness and affection are everywhere.

One of the most inspirational sights was the large number of older Carnaval participants. Men and women in their 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s who had spent hours on their costumes and make-up to take part in the celebrations. This was not just for the young.

The other heart-warming feature of the Carnaval was the number of volunteers and supporters. The mothers and fathers who were there  with drinks to keep their kids hydrated in the 30+ temperatures. The police, emergency workers and firemen who gave their time for the parade.

When I enlarged many of my images on the screen I noticed a huge number of young people have braces on their teeth. Its a part of Colombia's free medical and dental program. They put a high price on smiling!

My Spanish is restricted to a couple of phrases and a few hello and thank you words. But saying Puedo tomarte una foto really works. Brigadier General Jose Segura, the Barranquilla Chief of Police and his wife arrived and stood behind me and posed for me.

It was a long, exhausting day. People had shutter fatigue; I had blisters on both feet and batteries were flat and memory cards full. It was one of those days on tour I will never forget.