D’Krewe 2010 Review – Carnival Tuesday

CARNIVAL TUESDAY

I got up at 4:30am despite my intention of waking up at half 5.

The time to meet the band was 11:00am. After having a bath and hastily shaving my legs, I made my way to my makeup artist, Rachiel in the living room. :)

Aunty Rachiel does my makeup for me every year and this year was no different. I had to wait for my sister in law who was getting ready to meet her band for 6:30am. While waiting I had breakfast of a ham sandwich and a hot cup of tea courtesy my mummy :)

The usual “leaving the house chaos Carnival Tuesday morning” took place, with the eleven or so of us getting dressed, adjusting costumes, putting on backpacks, being sprayed with sunscreen, grabbing bags and cups, picking up vex money and hiding keys in the flowerpot under the sink.

I was the last to get ready, and had to be laced up into my corset. After being laced up I could not breathe or bend, so my husband had to help me into my socks and then into my boots. I put on my headpiece and was ready to go!

I got to the band, and the band was looking really good!

Unfortunately in the haste to leave the house, I left my arm twisties at home, I ended up getting one from the mas camp. I was happy.

The band made their way down to Ariapita Avenue, the costumes looking nice, the music sounding good. We arrived at the first judging point at Adam Smith Square.

My section which was undoubtedly the best section in the band was second to last in the line up which didn’t bother me one bit, cause I does only be in my section to cross the stage anyways.

My only problem with the band on Tuesday was the actual lineup in terms of the colours, I found that the colours were too close in some instances. Like Hawk, Riptide and Desert. Anyhoo.

We crossed Adam Smith and made our way to Victoria Square. As usual, there were no judges at this judging point when we arrived and there was also no spectator control. We then slowly made our way to Independence Square.

After crossing Adam Smith, I attempted to get a drink by the bar. This proved to be unsuccessful. There were too many people and not enough bar. The one bar truck which was way too tall for my 5’4” was always crowded and jammed with people. I bought drinks (Coke, juice, water) for most of the day to save myself the stress and jostling.

On the way to Independence Square I found that the band was moving way too slowly so I walked ahead to see what was the holdup. There was nothing. The band was just strolling down the road and taking their time. I left the band and walked downtown to see some other bands and wait for my band.

After crossing the stage just after 1:00pm, we made our way up Frederick Street and I was wondering what was going on with lunch as no announcement was made and in the letter I got, I didn’t read anything about a lunch stop. I saw the bandleader (he didn’t need a tag like some others) and asked him about lunch. He told me the band was stopping on Hart Street so that is where I went.

I was one of the first people to arrive to get lunch and was able to find a nice cool spot on a bench in Woodford Square. The lunch was rice, plantain (my favourite!), potato salad and a HUGE slab of fish. The food was tasty and my only complaint would be gravy. I like my food wet. Maybe some peas in a cup on he side would have helped.

After lunch I got a call from my mum and dad, they were on Independence Square, so after using the Wee Wee truck to freshen up, I went looking for the parents. Mac Farlane looked really nice in their full costume.

I headed back to my band on Frederick Street, where we then proceeded to Charlotte Street and settled in for a LONG wait. D’Krewe crossed the Savannah space/stage at approximately half past 8, after spending some 4 hours on Charlotte Street. I did not stay with the band during this wait though, but went to meet my sons who were waiting for me up by the Savannah. I chilled with them a bit, walked along and saw some other family and friends and then bounced up the parents in MAc Farlane yet again, as they were a few bands behind us waiting to cross.

Now the four hour wait wasn’t so bad for me, as I sat right on the pavement just in front of NAPA and got to see Trini Revellers, Legacy, Genesis, Ronnie and Caro, All Stars, We International, Showtime, some traditional mas, as well as some other random bands I had never heard of with some dubious looking costumes.

After we crossed the stage, I waited for Mac Farlane and chipped home with the parents sometime after 9:00pm, my latest Carnival Tuesday in REAL years!

Overall I had a great time with D’Krewe. Some of the things that I think D’Krewe should look at improving on are: the number of and the height of the bars and the number of people actually making the snocones, one man is just not enough by any stretch of the imagination.

Again, I must say MUCH thanks to Carnival Kris (MUAH!), thanks to Angeli for accommodating me at the last minute and a big thanks to that band that didn’t want me or my money cause if it wasn’t for them I would not have had the opportunity to play in the BEST Carnival costume EVER! Yes, ever!

This was one of my favourite costumes…Loved it, loved it, loved it!

It needed no adjustments and was the same as the prototype and was SUPER comfy.

Who would have thought that after such a disastrous Carnival Sunday, that my Carnival would have turned out so great?