Carnival

Carnival is the celebration that precedes the Lenten season (40 days before Easter).    People party, toss water balloons and drench each other with buckets of water.      During the days leading to Carnival, everyone has license to drench anyone with water.    One afternoon I thought I would be kind and offered a water balloon to an elderly woman for "defensa" and she proceeded to break it on my back.  Most evenings Kate and I go for a walk on the main road that goes through town.  During one of our walks, passengers on a bus traveling about 35 mph threw bucket of water on us from out of the back exit door.    Unlike all the other town festivals that take place in the center of town very near our apartment, Carnival is celebrated by the river.   Thankfully, we had no idea how late the parties lasted during Carnival because the party was located about a mile from our apartment.   Carnival was lots of fun and drenching others was an opportunity to have fun with lots of our neighbors.

Annalise and Kate having dinner at our friend Yolanda's restaurant

One of many soccer games played during Carnival

Emmett and Annalise getting ready to squirt people with canisters of foam

mud puddles are convenient way ensure others get wet (and muddy)

the kiddie pool came in handy to drench friends

John played in a game and scored some goals

Lauro celebrating our arrival 

the calm before the storm.... 

Annalise attacking Lauro

Emmett floating down the rapids

twenty people (including Emmett, Annalise and John) and two strollers fit in the back of a pickup bed to travel to the next venue of Carnival