Zip lining in Saint Lucia

Carnival in the upper or Old City

 

Carnival in the Upper, or Old City is family oriented. There are families and kids walking around and parading in costumes of all types. It appeared that the parading groups have a shared interest and dressed in that cultural interest. Brian and I decided to join one of the parades as it worked it's way to where the elevator was that took us back to the marina. If you look closely in the first video, you will see the back of Brian as he dances down the street.

                                                                     Look for Brian

 

 

The parade rout with the large statues.

                                              

                                                        Kids are kids all around the world.

                                                
                                                    Some of the more colorful costumes.

 

Carnival in Brazil

 The Carnival in Brazil is hard to describe as it is a moving target. Each community has it's own celebration. In Salvador there two Carnivals that we were able to watch. The first one was  in the lower city with mostly younger people. Semi trailers with concert quality sound systems and elaborate stages held some of the hottest bands in Brazil. The music was as loud as any concert. The people were dancing to each song as the semi trailers passed by at a snails pace. Each moving stage would stop for several minuets, move a little way and stop again. The people you see in the video pay a hefty price to walk along with the truck. You will see security people with a rope in their hand that separate the people walking with the people in the street. There are several vendors selling beer and drinks inside the security line. Accompany each traveling stage is a support semi, which has another bar and bathrooms. If you look behind the support semi, you will see two lines, one for men and one for woman. The exits are on the side where you see people coming out.

We bought tickets for a balcony overlooking the carnival rout so we could be safe and secure while we watched the carnival. We were told the street was unsafe, and several of our friends were mugged, or the victim of pickpockets.  It was interesting that as the song changed, the dance that most of the people were doing also changed, but they were all doing the same dance. My take on this was every one was having a wonderfully time. An experience that I was glad to have and share.

Next post will be from the upper town that was family orientated.

 

 

The men's bathroom exit and bar.

                                                          The lead semi and a vendor.

                                    The security line and security people in front of the semi. 

                                                             One of the concert stages.   

.
                                                                The masses of people.  

 

Swiming with the Whale Sharks

 

 

 

We were in St. Helena and were able to take a tour for swimming with Whale Sharks. The rules were, stay 10 ft. away from the body of the sharks and 20 ft. away from the tale. I will let you figure the tale rule. The sharks are a slow lumbering animal and seam attracted to boats and people. Whenever I found myself in front of a shark, it seamed to head right at me, and then turn about 10ft before reaching me. I was actually able to get one back to the surface by staying in front and working my way to the surface.  We took three tours and found sharks on the first and third tour. On the third tour, the tour operator spotted a shark about 10 feet under the water by only a dark area. We were all amazed that he could see the dark area through the waves. The whale sharks come to St. Helena almost every year in the January to February time frame and they have been increasing in numbers from year to year.

 

The photos are best viewed in full size. Please download them and view full size.

 

This was totally awesome!!!