Trinidad Carnival 2015!!

Soo...I finally get to talk about Trinidad Carnival!! My 2nd Carnival :) 

I apologize in advance if this is a long post. There will be lots of pictures :) And just to preface: this took place mid February of this year.

I decided I wanted to go to Trinidad for carnival back in January when my friend Neisha told me she and her friend were thinking about going. I was like, "Oh, that will be fun! I wanna go!" She said, "Sure! Come!" So ever since then, it was a wrap, I set my mind on going, I just had to make sure I could get that time off from work. By the time my schedule was finalized (a few weeks prior to carnival), Neisha and her friend had changed their mind. I was bummed out, but still wanted to go. I didn't want to go alone, but I contemplated it everyday. I knew my friend Stephen would be there at that time, but he would be busy DJ'ing for the most part. So he and I came up with a brilliant idea...I would go alone, but stay with him and his family! Not only would that save me a lot of money on a place to stay, but I would be with people he trusted. I also knew his sister Simone who would be there as well. So me, and this YOLO life I live, I immediately booked my flight! No more hesitations; it was final. I wasn't nervous at all. I was more than excited and counted down the days. I was soo ready to get away! I didn't tell many people I was going before I left, because I didn't want to be judged (about going alone) or asked a lot of questions. So right before I left, I told the people who needed to know just in case anything were to happen during a flight or something. Overall, the trip went well, I stayed safe, and I had a great time!

Up, up, and away!

Trinidad Carnival...fete after fete, pumpin' day and night, Soca 24/7, masquerading, good vibes, great people! I had a blast! So like I said, I stayed with Stephen's family in Carenage. They were amazing; the minute his Dad picked me up from the airport Thursday evening, he told me to call him "Dad" and said that I am another of his daughter's anytime I am there in Trinidad. So immediately I knew I was in good hands. When we got to the house, I met the fam, unpacked a little, and just chilled until the first fete (for me) began. That night, Stephen, Jamie, and I went to Tribe Ignite at the Stadium Training Grounds. It was a huge outside event with a bunch of performances on the main stage. It was fun...we walked around, danced, drank, and even met a couple famous people (you know that's a big deal for me lol). Ended at 4am :) Then we limed (hung out/partied for those of you that don't know) a little on The Avenue.

Tribe Ignite

Stephen and I

Ran into Damian Wayans!

So many people!

I met Kerwin DuBois thanks to Stephen!!

Simone and I on The Avenue

Gorgeous gals!

Friday: After a few hours of sleep, we got up in the morning for Stephen's Bright Colours Boatride from 12pm-3pm. Before boarding, Jamie and I sold some "Cloud 9" t-shirts while the rest of the crew sorted out tickets and got people on the boat. It was an awesome boat ride & I met some great people! Everyone said it was one of the best boat rides they've been on. We danced and danced and danced. Drank and had a good time! Plenty of laughs...all with a gorgeous view!

Ocean view :)

Port-of-Spain

Me, Jamie, & Stephanie

DIY tees :)

Stephen on the 1's & 2's

Love this! And clearly Soca music :)

Papa <3

Simone and I <3

Marlon aka "DJ Eternal Vibes"

Stephen & I

Sandra <3

Dora...The craziest fun girl you'll ever meet!

haha...Keno!

The day I met Wassi! <3

On Cloud 9 :)

That night, Stephanie (Stephen's sister), Matthew (her BF), and I went to Blue Range Cooler Fete at the Blue Range Courts in Diego Martin and met up with some of their friends. This was my first cooler fete. Oh my gosh...I had a blast!! This also was a big outside event with guest artist's performing on stage. I only have a few random pics, but just know...it was EPIC. It was at the same time they announced the International Soca Monarch Power Champion for 2015: Machel Montano that won for "Like a Boss". It was great! Shit was crazy! So by the end of the night, they played that song over and over again, and we jumped like crazy people and danced as if they were playing it the first time every time lol. It was soo much fun! That's the night Stephanie became my carnival partner in crime :) We literally partied the night away til' it ended at like 5am!

Stage

Our coolers

Kerwin performing

Steph and I

"Whinin' on a strangaaa"

Saturday: That night (well morning after the party), I stayed with Stephanie & Matthew. We slept in a good part of the day (not surprisingly after our night), made egg sandwiches for breakfast, then stopped by the mall for a few things. That late afternoon/evening, me, Simone, Keno, and a couple other people went to the Steel Pan show/competition. We didn't go for the actual show show, but we walked around, listened to a couple groups play, & stopped at vendors. It was cool. Pan is a very different and fun type of skill/sound. I also ate my first "Double" there (courtesy of Keno)!

The gang!

Steel Pan

Good turn out

My "Double"...not the most appetizing picture, but it was yummy! 

More pan

That night a little before midnight, after some steel pan, a group of us went to Insomnia "Ultimate Breakfast Party" by the bay in Westside Chaguaramas. Insomnia is another huge outside event with drinks, food, whining, water spraying, huge flags, and lots of performances. We walked there all together because it'd be quicker and easier then driving. (There's like one main road that people take to get everywhere, so when there's a fete somewhere, traffic going towards it is crazy!) I'm glad we decided to walk though...you'll see why in a second :) But (here's another) oh my goshhhh...it was so so much fun! We literally partied until the morning, and I'm not talking early morning hours, I'm talking like 10am! I couldn't believe it. But even still I didn't want it to end. Simone was my partner in crime that night :) Once we started dancing, we never stopped! The ground & people were so wet and messy by the time it was over, but no one cared. It was all in good fun. But the fun didn't end there! On the walk back home, there's a stretch that's along the water...so what do a few of us do?! Jump in of course! Didn't even think twice about it lol. The weather & water temperature were perfect. It was the perfect ending to a great night! Only in Trinidad can you take a swim in the bay right after a fete...with your clothes on! haha. We were soo goofy/delirious by that time, which just made everything that much more fun/funny.

Samantha, Me, & Simone 

Sun starting to come up!

haha love this pic! 

Post dip in the water!

Think we need sleep?! Nahhh lol

Great people!

A really fun mini photo shoot :)

All Colgate smiles here!  :)

Sunday: After Insomnia, everyone crashed when we got back...everyone but me. I guess I was so hyped up on adrenaline and just the carnival mentality that I couldn't sleep. I tried, but couldn't sleep more than an hour or so. I wanted to keep going and go to the next party, but no one else was up for that. I think this was when I got the nickname "Lucy" lol. (If you know Soca music, you'll understand) So I just chilled in the house, snacked on some food, and listened to Soca all day (via the car speaker) with the rest of the family. During carnival season, Soca is playing loud all day, everyday, everywhere. And no one complains! It was awesome. That night, Stephanie, Jamie, Stephen, and I went to UV Vibes at Pier 1 in Chaguaramas. It was a smaller fete, still outside, drinks included. It was pretty fun and watching Fadda Fox perform up close and personal was really cool. This was an earlier event that ended at 10pm...I guess because J'ouvert was coming up at 3am :)

Fadda Fox

Dora, Stephen, Jamie, and I

Love this pic!

Me and Steph <3

The gals! Jamie, Wassi, me, Steph

Simone and I <3

Gorgeous gals! Dora, Simone, and I

Sunday night/Monday morning: Just a few short hours after getting back from UV Vibes, we had to get up and ready for J'ouvert. The most fun thing in the world haha. J'ouvert started at 3am and we had to get there on time because Stephen was DJ'ing on the truck. This was my first time playing J'ouvert!! We played with Mudders International. Stephen, Stephanie, Jamie and I thoroughly enjoyed this amazingly fun morning together. We marched, danced, and got muddy until the festivities ended around 8am I believe. It was another "start in the dark, end with the sun" type of event. I love that! Such a rejuvenating feeling. I love J'ouvert...who wouldn't love to have fun getting messy while drinking, dancing, and listening to Soca??! We had a great time :)

Before shit got dirtyyy

Steph and I

Love us!

My partner in crime <3 Love this pic!

What happens when chocolate gets poured on you :)

Gettin' dirtyyy

Can't help but not! lol

I come alive in de night time!

It's J'ouvert morninggg!

Courtesy cup :)

Sun's up!

Fun times!

We fete'n!

hahaha...no caption

Stephen holding it down!

Lucy Lucy

Vibes!

In my own world and loving it!

Sibling love

How could you ever skip a J'ouvert?!  :)

After J'ouvert, we went home, got all cleaned up, and I think just hung out for a few hours. It was a little sucky not having a car and being able to go wherever I wanted, but it was okay. I should have just used that time to rest, but did I...no lol. Instead I was up being Lucy dancing to the music in my head lol. Soca was ringing in my ears 24/7...and I loved it! We limed on The Avenue later that day & night which was fun. The Avenue is like the main strip with all the bars & eating places. It was poppin' of course; at some points, so crowded you could hardly walk though.

Aripita Avenue

Security patrolling non-stop

Met Cassi :)

Monday: Carnival Mondayyy...an alllll day event! Started in the morning and ended in the evening! Jamie, Keno, and I started this day together and met up with the rest of the crew later. We played with Ronnie and Caro for Carnival Monday and Tuesday. It was a lot of walking, a lot a hydrating, but lots of fun!

Jamie and I

haha always dancin'!

No age limit!

So elegant!

Ready to cross the stage!

Stage ready

I love horses <3

Reunited

Break time

Resting our little feet :)

And then it continued...til after the sun set.

Hahaha...they caught me slippin'! It was a long day!

We limed on The Avenue after, then headed home to rest up briefly before the big day...Carnival Tuesday! So before going to Trini, I didn't plan on playing Mas. It wasn't until I got there that I was persuaded to play. Everyone was like, "You can't come to Trini and not play mas!" So a few days before Carnival Tuesday, we scrounged around looking for last minute costumes/band for the girls and I to play in. Luckily, we ended up finding some, and that's how we ended up in Ronnie and Caro!

Tuesday: Began in the way early morning...like 7am. We got there late...like around 8 something, so we had to find our band and catch up with them, which was a little chaotic. But we found them, and we were with them the rest of the day. Stephanie, Samantha, and I played Mas together with Ronnie and Caro Mas Band. It was a longg longg day! I couldn't believe how long we paraded! Literally like 12 hours! I thought it would be like Miami Carnival...4-5hrs, but I was clearly wrong. We started as the sun was rising and ended after sunset. It was a great day though. The parade route is a little different compared to Miami because in Trinidad, each band has their own route whereas in Miami, the bands followed each other along the same route. I thought it was a little weird because there would be points where you would cross paths with another band and have to wait for them to go by. But it was okay; no troubles. We were provided breakfast and lunch. Our band had food trucks, they passed out snacks along the way, drink trucks, music trucks, a bathroom truck, and even a minivan for people who couldn't walk anymore or people who were sick. We rode in the minivan for about 15min that afternoon, because the girls were feeling exhausted. But we got out fairly quickly, because there were people who needed the seats more than we did. It was a hot day, so we made sure to keep hydrated. It was like yea we were drinking liquor, but there was no way you could get drunk because you were sweating it right out! So I drank a little here and there, but had tons of water. For lunch, we stopped at a big open area, where we ate, rested, and chatted. We had an hour before we were back on the road again. It was fun. So glad I decided to play!!

Las 3 amigas!

Gettin' it!

Her bumpa!

Safety 1st!

The ladies!

Samantha and I

Just havin' fun!

Band leader...she was gorgeous!

Extravagant!

Hahaha...a much needed lunch time/break! I was beat!

Random fellas 

My carnival buddy!

After our extremely long day parading, we limed on The Avenue one last time. It was packed! Great way to end the day though.

Haha...clearly the party didn't stop!

Yummy bake and shark  to refuel :)

I don't know why they let cars drive down The Avenue
when it's packed. Smh

Well guys...that about wraps it up! Overall, I had an amazing time in Trinidad and definitely plan to be back next year. I'm so grateful to have Stephen as a friend and appreciative of his family that helped make this trip possible. I enjoyed every minute of it... fete after fete, Soca day and night, liming, getting a nickname, new friendships, great food (even though I really didn't eat much the whole trip), crossing stages, and of course the lovely Trinidadian culture. Oh and to top it off...I lost 2lbs this trip! All that dancing paid off! haha

Can't wait until next year!!

Trinidad Carnival 2015

Hope you enjoyed!