Repost of the Day: Carnaval ~ Into the Heart of Cuba

Repost of the Day: Adding a bit of light to the darkness as we get through the pandemic together.
This series features travel photos from my archives, shared with you while staying at home.

July 8th, 2020

As the title suggests, today we’re going deep into the heart of Cuba at Carnaval.

This was an evening to remember … an experience in my years of travel that stands out among the best. We begin with my original introduction, enjoy the opening processions from the bleachers, and eventually follow the heartbeat of Carnaval onto the street where performers pass and pose in front of us.

Enjoy!
Kelly

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Carnaval, Santiago de Cuba

July, 2016

Of my recent trip to Cuba, I can think of a hundred ways to tell you about my experience that make more sense than where I’m choosing to begin my story. I could write a logical day-to-day account from start to finish, or prioritize the sights I saw in a narrative path around the island. But Cuba isn’t linear and exploring the country is more akin to falling in love than to following an itinerary. That’s why I’m starting my story in the middle, taking you straight into the heart of Cuba through the experience of Carnaval.

Carnaval, Santiago de Cuba

We dive into Carnaval on our third night in Santiago de Cuba. Carnaval lasts for a week, but very little information exists about what happens each night so we decide to just show up and see what happens. Our taxi driver drops us at the port around 9:30 p.m. and the spectacle begins to come alive.

Carnaval, Santiago de Cuba

Carnaval, Santiago de Cuba

Carnival, Santiago de Cuba

Carnival, Santiago de Cuba

The evening starts with a parade of muñecones (papier-mâché characters) and a curious dance with the devil. Sensual, suggestive, intimidating … Carnaval is not shy. Yet the kids are not at home with the babysitter, either. No wonder an entire country of people — young to old — know exactly how to step their feet and sway their hips when the primal rhythm of a comparsa goes thumping down the street. Cubans have been doing this for a very long time.

Carnival, Santiago de Cuba

Carnival, Santiago de Cuba

Carnaval traces all the way back to the 17th century, and what happens in Santiago de Cuba these days is likely an evolution of past summer festivals called Los Mamarrachos. Mamarracho translates to “sight” or “mess,” and Carnaval is certainly both in grandeur and color. As the night goes on, the costumes get bigger and more ornate. By 11:00 p.m. the early parade of novel characters has transformed into an extravagant runway of creativity.

Carnaval, Santiago de Cuba

Carnival, Santiago de Cuba

Carnival, Santiago de Cuba

Carnival, Santiago de Cuba

Carnaval, Santiago de Cuba

Carnival, Santiago de Cuba

Carnival, Santiago de Cuba

Carnival, Santiago de Cuba

Carnival, Santiago de Cuba

Carnival, Santiago de Cuba

Carnival, Santiago de Cuba

In between the flowers, wings and ruffles, out come the big drums and percussive ensembles that beat me back into the elemental bliss of feeling the rhythm of Cuba. This alternating between congas and paseos — groups of musicians and lavishly dressed characters — keeps bringing the whole experience back down to earth, while building the anticipation of what comes next. As much as I love the fanciful costume designs, the drums and the passion surrounding them are my favorite part of Carnaval.

Carnival, Santiago de Cuba

Carnival, Santiago de Cuba

Carnival, Santiago de Cuba

Carnival, Santiago de Cuba

The corneta china squeaks out its distinct horn sound all night long, sometimes in ear-piercing blurts over the sound system. The instrument was introduced to Carnaval in the early 1900s. If I close my eyes and listen to the horns and the drums, I can imagine being at Thaipusam in Singapore. The corneta china adds a worldly dimension to this uniquely Cuban festival.

Just as we think the evening might be nearing its end … nope. Carnaval kicks it up another notch. We’ve migrated from the bleachers to the staging area and a new parade of the night’s most elaborately dressed characters begins to appear from out of nowhere. I love this vantage point — in the middle of traffic, in full contact with the pride and joy of these amazing performers.

Carnaval, Santiago de Cuba

Carnaval, Santiago de Cuba

Carnaval, Santiago de Cuba

Carnaval, Santiago de Cuba

Carnaval, Santiago de Cuba

Carnaval, Santiago de Cuba

Carnaval, Santiago de Cuba

Carnaval, Santiago de Cuba

Carnaval, Santiago de Cuba

Carnaval, Santiago de Cuba

Carnaval, Santiago de Cuba

Carnaval, Santiago de Cuba

Carnaval, Santiago de Cuba

Carnaval, Santiago de Cuba

Carnaval, Santiago de Cuba

Carnaval, Santiago de Cuba

Carnaval, Santiago de Cuba

Carnaval, Santiago de Cuba

Carnaval, Santiago de Cuba

And then we see it — the first float and the dazzling men and women standing on it. There has been so much to look at, we haven’t even noticed this new addition to the parade approaching us from the far end of the route. A man with a flame shooting from his head marks the beginning of the next phase of Carnaval.

Carnaval, Santiago de Cuba

Carnaval, Santiago de Cuba

Carnaval, Santiago de Cuba

Carnaval, Santiago de Cuba

Carnaval, Santiago de Cuba

Carnaval, Santiago de Cuba

By 1:00 a.m., the sensuality and decorum of Carnaval is fully revealed, and the heat of Cuba manifests itself in a non-stop display of scantily garnished performers on floats. Even the dancers from earlier in the evening have stopped to revere these celebrities, perhaps aspiring to someday achieve what seems to be the pinnacle of Carnaval.

It’s possible these are Tropicana performers on the floats going by. The Tropicana has a long history in Cuba since 1931, and its cabaret dancers remain an iconic part of Cuban identity as a symbol of liberation. The Tropicana has been called “a Cuban institution” and “as quintessentially Cuban as cigars and rum.” And the post-show disco is reportedly “hot enough to cook the pork.”

By 1:30 a.m. our pork is cooked and our minds are blown. Our evening taxi returns to shuttle us home from one of the most memorable nights in all of our world traveling.

As an American, I arrived in Cuba with the naive expectation that the country would be barely developed, hardly getting by, in dire need of help. As I saw from our 13-hour taxi ride, this is true by some standards — infrastructure and transportation among them. But by the standard of human spirit, Carnaval shows us all that Cuba is flourishing, with an old soul that’s more expressive and better company than some of its closest neighbors.

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