Monday, February 4, 2013

Merida, Yucatan, Carnival 2013



Carnival* in Mérida, Yucatan, is a riotous, wild, and noisy, almost out of control street party that lasts a week. Beer vendors and street food carts pack the parade route where revved up mega amplifiers blast out earsplitting thunderous reverberations that rock the entire city.

This is Mérida’s pre Lenten season bash, the second largest in all of Mexico. Brazil holds the honors for the world’s largest. New Orleans is number one in the U. S.

 

Pretty faces, outlandish outfits, huge crowds, and everything done excessively: the rule seems to be that there are no rules in this competition to carry everything to extremes.  
The above photo is a collage of the main boulevard street, Paseo de Montejo, which has bleacher seats lining the entire parade route interspersed with towering stages stacked high with power-house sound systems and dazzling lights. Behind the bleachers are beer, soft drink and food stands. Independent tricycle food and beverage carts, like the one on the right, are typical of Yucatan.  Spectators camp all night on the bleachers to hold seats.



Carnival Schedule

Wednesday, Feb 6 – Burning of bad humor in the Plaza Grande 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb, 7 - Preschoolers Parade - 6 p.m.
Friday, February 8 - Corso Parade - 7 p.m.
Saturday, February 9 - Fantasy Parade - 7 p.m. Sunday, February 10 - Dance Parade - Noon Monday, Feb. 11 - Regional Parade - 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb 12 - Battle of the Flowers Parade - Noon
Wednesday, Feb, 13 - Burial of Juan Carnaval* - 7 p.m.

A spelling note: Carnival is the English spelling and carnaval is Spanish.
Photos and video  of Carnival 2013
More carnival photos.


Yucatan is a one of a kind place where every day is a celebration of life. It is unlike the rest of the world where only weekends and holidays can be festive.
Read more about Yucatan in the books: 
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