The Final Carnaval

It's hard to believe we experienced our last Carnaval this past February! I guess I shouldn't be so final about it, considering there's always a chance we might be back in Europe during this festive time of year, but we'll just never know. This has been without a doubt one of our favorite festivities while living in both Wiesbaden, where we celebrated Fasching, and Sittard, where they celebrate a different version, Carnaval. This year, we were blessed with beautiful clear skies and sunshine, though the temperatures were still quite frigid. We layered up and headed to the parade route with our usual gang of revelers for one amazing final Carnaval. 

The Indian and the Sailor with 28-week baby bump

Along the parade route

Although we don't fully understand every culturally-local nuance that takes place during Carnaval, on the day of the parade the streets are filled with outrageous costumes, raucous music blasting from floats and a wash of festive colors everywhere. The energy and enthusiasm is contagious, and whether simply a bystander, or a parade participant, everyone is sporting a costume or the Carnaval colors and are in exuberant moods. 

The guys along the parade route

Along the parade route - models of buildings on the Sittard square

Along the parade route with a couple more stragglers

I'm gonna miss these gals!

This year, we had special guests visit us just in time to take part in the wacky festivities. For six years, Jon has been trying to get his high school buds, Tim and Kevin to visit us in Europe and finally (and just in time, I might add) they made it over in February. Kevin arrived first in Amsterdam where he and Jon spent a day and night exploring the city. Tim and his wife, Becky, arrived on Sunday morning, the day of Carnaval, but still managed to rock out at the parade despite their jet lag. 

Tim, Kevin and Jon

Doing our best YMCA pose

We arranged for our group to dress as the Village People, where we studied up on our characters by watching the original music videos for 'YMCA,' 'Macho Man,' and 'In the Navy' over and over again. Tim, Becky and Kevin were great sports to wear the get-ups we provided for them and had no problem getting into character immediately.

Oh yeah.... synchronized clapping

Ladies pic

The Carnaval revelers

Sittard square

Though it was somewhat of a sentimental day, knowing it was one of our last major festivals to spend with friends, it was without a doubt one of the best Carnavals yet with fabulous weather, excited visitors, dear friends in tow and plenty of 'macho men'. I will always cherish our many Carnaval memories that always brings a bright spot to the middle of our long dreary winters. Alaaf!