May 15, 2011

The Carnival on Saint Martin - Take #2


I wonder – who came up with the idea of the carnival? Why do carnivals, in their most extravagant form, seem perfectly at home in certain countries or cities, and completely out of place in others? What a strange idea – to put on flamboyant outfits, and go dancing down the street to loud music.

How can such a strange event unite so many completely different people, and get them to be happy and cheerful at the same time and place, and for quite a simple reason?

I’m sure historians and sociologists can answer some of these questions. However, if you leave your technology-centric city life for a while, and visit the carnival on Saint Martin, these questions will lose their releveants in the mighty flow of colour, sound, and movement. This carnival is a part of life, and also life itself, which sweeps you up in its rhythm. It allows you to breathe the hot seaside air. It stays with you in your dreams and memories. Or even in the tangible, everyday life – in the form of a little bright feather lying on the pavement.

                    
                                          



                                   

              
Posted by Olga

32 comments:

  1. Alexandra MacVeanMay 15, 2011 at 2:46 PM

    What amazing and colourful photos! Thank you for sharing them with us. Love the design in each of the costumes, too. :)

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  2. Antonio MachadoMay 15, 2011 at 2:56 PM

    Hello Olga,
    Beautiful carnival!
    A hug from Brasil

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  3. orfeenixMay 15, 2011 at 3:17 PM

    what happened to the banana split?

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  4. Jane and Lance HattattMay 15, 2011 at 3:21 PM

    Hello Olga:
    Such a wonderful and enthusiastic expression of the joy of life. The colour, the vibrancy, the drama, the gaiety,the very life of the carnival are all to be found in these magnificent images which, we are sure, will be reminders [if such are needed] of the time spent on Saint Martin.

    And yes, like you, we wonder about the origins of carnivals.

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  5. DianeMay 15, 2011 at 3:47 PM

    Olga I loved the colour in these photos on the first posting and your second posting has not disappointed me either. Beautiful. Diane

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  6. Rick ForrestalMay 15, 2011 at 4:14 PM

    Oh good,you brought your carnival pics back! They're so wonderful, and bright, and colorful -- just like the people.

    Maybe that's the key -- where carnivals live and are loved -- where the people are bright, and colorful, and love music, and SMILE.

    You just made me smile.
    xo

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  7. HilaMay 15, 2011 at 9:54 PM

    what I love about carnivals is that they're so full of vibrancy, energy and colour - it's hard not to feel happy looking at these images.

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  8. Jennifer FabulousMay 15, 2011 at 11:30 PM

    The vibrant colors and the joy in these photos take my breath away! They are stunning! I wish I had the opportunity to attend a carnival but I don't think any cities near my town have one...

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  9. Pierre BOYERMay 15, 2011 at 11:44 PM

    I particulary love the first one and the girl at phone with her friend...
    Good work !
    Thanks !

    Pierre

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  10. dianneMay 16, 2011 at 9:48 AM

    Wow, what great images, the colourful costumes are wonderful, I'm sure the music and the whole atmosphere was as well ... looks like a lot of fun! :)

    xoxoxo ♡

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  11. LenaMay 16, 2011 at 10:24 AM

    The colours!! They just made me amazingly happy... I truly needed that this morning...
    Thank you so much for posting these, Olga!!
    Warmest hugs!

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  12. AnonymousMay 16, 2011 at 10:28 AM

    Quelle chance de pouvoir assister à un tel carnaval! Mais il faut aller au-delà et participer physiquement et psychologiquement à cette fête. Il faut s'imprégner, se mêler, vivre ce moment magique!

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  13. OlgaMay 16, 2011 at 12:40 PM

    Hi Sophia,
    Yes, the carnival costumes left a deep impression on me :) You can't even call this design "over-the-top" because where else can you expect to see something over the top?

    Hi Antonio,
    Thank you for the compliment. It's especially appreciated because the carnival in Brazil must be something grandiose.

    Hi orfeenix,
    First, it turned to diamonds. Then, I put it back the way it was :)

    Hi Jane and Lance Hattatt,
    This carnival is just the thing I needed, because, both before and after the trip, Toronto was full of rain and cold - and it looks like it'll continue in that direction.

    Hi Diane,
    I'm so glad that you enjoyed this version of my Carnival experience. It would have been too boring just to repeat the same post.

    Hi Rick,
    I loved the atmosphere of this carnival. In Toronto, we have a Caribbean parade, but it seems less wild and spontaneous.

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  14. OlgaMay 16, 2011 at 12:48 PM

    Hi hila,
    In general, I believe that the more smiles, happiness, and laughter can be produced in this world, the better :)

    Hi Jennifer Fabulous,
    We have the Caribana carnival in Toronto. Maybe with the fresh impressions of Saint Martin, I will visit it this year, to compare.

    Hi Pierre,
    The girl with the phone - as soon as she saw my camera, she and her friend started to strike a pose. It was lovely :)

    Hi Dianne,
    I'm glad I captured the atmosphere with my photos. For me, it is always important, and I feel nervous when I think it might not give the right feeling.

    Hi Lena,
    A good dose of carnival spirit is necessary to us at the moments when we feel low. I'm glad you liked the photos.

    Hi Richard,
    Le moment était vraiment magique. Le plus loin, il est de moi, plus je comprends que j'ai eu cette chance dans la vie.

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  15. floweringmamaMay 16, 2011 at 2:02 PM

    Thank you for stopping by! Your photos are simply amazing. The colors are breathtaking. I could imagine the sounds and the smells. It's funny - here when carnival is mentioned imagines of cotton candy and children on mechanical rides come to mind. I like your version of Carnival much better!

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  16. Sabine GimmMay 16, 2011 at 2:26 PM

    Wonderful colors. I'd like to dance with the people in the sun.
    Greetings Sabine

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  17. kMay 16, 2011 at 2:31 PM

    strange but SO fascinating i think!! these are great pics!

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  18. 黄清华 Wong Ching WahMay 16, 2011 at 7:12 PM

    Gorgeous colors and tradition.
    Have a beautiful Sunday.

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  19. Jean-Philippe VerselinMay 16, 2011 at 9:56 PM

    Je parlais de ce reportage photo bien sur ! mais mon doigt à été plus loin ! grrr ! bises

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  20. Happy-SonneMay 17, 2011 at 12:00 AM

    Dear Olga
    Oh.... very nice pictures! The colours are a dream.
    Hugs Yvonne

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  21. AlezhiMay 17, 2011 at 12:01 AM

    Hi Olga, thank you for stopping by my blog, yours is very colorful and the pictures are amazing, very traditional carnival.

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  22. UnknownMay 17, 2011 at 2:53 AM

    I like your photos! The music is not more missing than! Thank you for your divisions and for your passage on my blog.:)

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  23. lifeshighwayMay 17, 2011 at 9:01 AM

    It seems that a carnival requires a lot of bikinis and feathers.

    The sequined banana split was adorable and I wanted it. Not sure what I would do with but I am like a magpie and attracted to sparkly things.

    Great crowd shots, too. You always have a nice eye.

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  24. OlgaMay 17, 2011 at 10:31 AM

    Hi floweringmama,
    Thank you for visiting and following! I'm so glad you like the post! It is raining in Toronto, so my memories of Carnival make me feel more cheerful.

    Hi Sabine,
    There's something about the Carnival that makes us want to escape the city:) Thank you for your comment.

    Hi Krystal,
    You are right, it is fascinating experience! I am back but my heart is still at St. Martin.

    Hi Wong,
    Thanks, dear friend:)

    Hi jeanfi,
    C'est si bon d'être en mesure d'apprécier ces moments spéciaux de Cannival et le partager avec vous. Je suis heureux vous avez aimé ma deuxième version trop;0

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  25. OlgaMay 17, 2011 at 10:46 AM

    Hi Happy-Sonne,
    I keep thinking about all these colors all the time :) Thank you for your comment!

    Hi Alezhi,
    Thanks for stopping by and for your comment.It was the first carnival that I have been attended :)

    Hi MARIE ,
    The music was really loud there:) Thank you for visiting and commenting!

    Hi lifeshighway,
    I'm so lucky to had a vacation at St. Martin. But I can't imagine myself in bikinis or feathers:) I am very shy, you know.

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  26. snowwhiteMay 17, 2011 at 11:16 AM

    I feel as if I heard the merry sound and rhythm of the carnival and was involved in the whirlpool of people's excitement and vivid colors!
    If I can spend a day once a year like them, I will forget all worries for the rest of the year!
    I remember the old movie "Black Orpheus".
    Have a nice day!

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  27. OlgaMay 17, 2011 at 11:32 AM

    Hi snowwhite ,
    That's so true about the therapeutic effect of the carnival. Perhaps we should slow down enough to see clearly how much we need the carnival once in awhile:)
    I always think, when I see your posts, that it's lovely to know that you like my photos.

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  28. SariMay 17, 2011 at 12:19 PM

    Wow what a wonderful colours! I like it!

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  29. AnonymousMay 17, 2011 at 12:27 PM

    I love all the beautiful colors!
    I miss the carnivals back home in Nigeria. We'd dance around on the streets. It was beautiful!


    LOVE!

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  30. lilylovekinMay 17, 2011 at 1:17 PM

    What colorful images, it makes me happy just looking at them. I can feel the party through the pixels!

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  31. Stoney Creek HomesteadMay 17, 2011 at 1:59 PM

    Hello Olga

    I have to admire those ladies. To be so confident to wear hardly anything with their body shapes. Makes me feel that I should not be so conscientious of my body shape! I love the smiling faces and all of the vibrant colours.

    Cheryl

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  32. OlgaMay 19, 2011 at 2:35 PM

    Hi Sari,
    Welcome to my blog! I'm glad you enjoy my addiction to colourful things.

    Hi tywo,
    It sounds like so much fun! I now love carnivals. Thank you for the lovely words.

    Hi lilylovekin,
    I think everyone needs a good portion of carnival spirit from time to time.

    Hi Cheryl,
    All these ladies don't pretend to be ballerinas; they're just being themselves, real people enjoying the carnival. I can confess that I posted only the most conservative outfits :)

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