SATURDAY 02/13/10
I woke up at 11:00 am thinking everyone had left, when in reality, everyone was still completely passed out. Breakfast was brought to us by the leaders of the group around 11:30 am – some toasted bread, crackers, jelly, dulce de leche and coffee. We all waited our turn for the 3 shower stalls which shared the same bathroom as the 1 toilet (for 4 rooms of bunk beds) and then congregated to go for lunch and the playa (beach). Lunch was actually at the same club that we had been to the night (morning) before – we had some milanesa (fried beef), took some group photos, and as the clouds rolled in, headed to the only open beach in Gualeguaychú. The main beach had been flooded from the large amount of rain the previous week, so Playa Morena was quite packed!
It was a camping ground with a rather small beach – people were just strewn about – recovering from the joda (partying) from which they had returned only hours before. We found a plot under a palapa, equipped ourselves with fernet and coke, daiquiris and mojitos and enjoyed the music being played by the DJ. After a while, we migrated toward the crowd to join in on the dancing. The clouds and even a little sprinkle did not stop anyone – it was quite a great afternoon of just letting loose. I even met an Argentine who had lived in Eagan! (The rest of the guys that I spoke with were a bit farther ahead of my one mojito…and didn’t warrant much of my time.)
(mojito in hand!)
(Brazilian dancers and an old man in a banana hammock)
(the 3 francesa, 1 argentina, 1 americana y 1 canadiense)
We went back to the hostel and had some take-out empanadas and then went to the Corso de Carnaval. It was a bit empty when we arrived at 9:30 pm, but it soon filled up, and after the first comparsa (group of floats and samba dancers), it was packed. We were seated in the 2nd row of the regular bleachers – we were blocked by a fence that separated the regular section from the VIP section. There were a few families around us, and we soon became friends with their kids. The corso was absolutely incredible!! To think of the time and money that goes into each intricately feathered costume and multi-leveled float holding full bands and aerial acrobats, it is unfathomable. And in such small town that really seems to only be famous for its 10 weeks of Carnaval! I was also quite impressed by the physique of the dancers – the women aren’t just wearing appliqués over their nipples, rather, they’re nude cups (like coconut bras) that have the appliqués on them…but their asses – completely bare, from what we could tell – and perfectly plump and smooth – both the men and women. I know that samba can be quite a workout, but their beauty really is commendable. And on top of the dancing that they do, the majority wears gigantic headdresses and “props” on their shoulders!
We stayed until the end at 2:30 am and entered VIP-style into Macuba (which is right across from the corso). Even though there were people inside this time…and wrapped around the building waiting to get in…the music still wasn’t great, and we left early around 3:30 am. On our way back to the hostel, we ran into the leaders, who convinced Natalia and me to go back to the club with them. We did, still no good music and tiredness and hunger set in, so Nati and I left 20 minutes later. This time, I didn’t hear anyone come in the room after I crashed at 4:30 am (again, we were the first back to the hostel).
It was a camping ground with a rather small beach – people were just strewn about – recovering from the joda (partying) from which they had returned only hours before. We found a plot under a palapa, equipped ourselves with fernet and coke, daiquiris and mojitos and enjoyed the music being played by the DJ. After a while, we migrated toward the crowd to join in on the dancing. The clouds and even a little sprinkle did not stop anyone – it was quite a great afternoon of just letting loose. I even met an Argentine who had lived in Eagan! (The rest of the guys that I spoke with were a bit farther ahead of my one mojito…and didn’t warrant much of my time.)
(mojito in hand!)
(Brazilian dancers and an old man in a banana hammock)
We went back to the hostel and had some take-out empanadas and then went to the Corso de Carnaval. It was a bit empty when we arrived at 9:30 pm, but it soon filled up, and after the first comparsa (group of floats and samba dancers), it was packed. We were seated in the 2nd row of the regular bleachers – we were blocked by a fence that separated the regular section from the VIP section. There were a few families around us, and we soon became friends with their kids. The corso was absolutely incredible!! To think of the time and money that goes into each intricately feathered costume and multi-leveled float holding full bands and aerial acrobats, it is unfathomable. And in such small town that really seems to only be famous for its 10 weeks of Carnaval! I was also quite impressed by the physique of the dancers – the women aren’t just wearing appliqués over their nipples, rather, they’re nude cups (like coconut bras) that have the appliqués on them…but their asses – completely bare, from what we could tell – and perfectly plump and smooth – both the men and women. I know that samba can be quite a workout, but their beauty really is commendable. And on top of the dancing that they do, the majority wears gigantic headdresses and “props” on their shoulders!
We stayed until the end at 2:30 am and entered VIP-style into Macuba (which is right across from the corso). Even though there were people inside this time…and wrapped around the building waiting to get in…the music still wasn’t great, and we left early around 3:30 am. On our way back to the hostel, we ran into the leaders, who convinced Natalia and me to go back to the club with them. We did, still no good music and tiredness and hunger set in, so Nati and I left 20 minutes later. This time, I didn’t hear anyone come in the room after I crashed at 4:30 am (again, we were the first back to the hostel).
Absolutely awesome costumes. Holidazzle could pick up a few tips here!
ReplyDeleteMarsha - I knew you'd appreciate the costumes. I actually used your dresses as an example to my friends of how much work goes into these beaded and appliqued costumes!
ReplyDelete