Monday, February 04, 2008

LICENSE TO CARNAVAL

The sign at the corner bakery says "Licensia en Carnaval." Then it tells us they will be back on the 18th of February. Today, I might add, is the 4th. These folks take their Carnaval seriously!

"How long does Carnaval last?" GREAT question, but hard to answer. "40 days," some say, "like Lent, only different." Our laundry place is taking Monday through Wednesday off for Carnaval; Hansen's school, however, is BEGINNING its school year during Carnaval (this Wednesday, Feb. 6, rather than in March like other schools); the convenience store virtually next door is open in the mornings and then closed the rest of the day for "awhile." 

This much I have heard to be true. Carnaval--and thus vacation--lasts longest in Uruguay (versus Brazil and Argentina and other Carnaval-celebrating places). But what do people DO during Carnaval, other than the opening parade I told you about and occasional candombe bands playing? We have no idea. Stay tuned...

2 comments:

dlecroy said...

K4, I got the truck I've been looking for...but still have Polly Prius. Still thinking about it for this summer? I can hang on to it no problem...

Also, looks like April will be the best time for me, but is that too late, crazy busy then? Do you guys have spring break plans yet, are they k4 solo or with the ACU crew?

Karen said...

We can have you in April, no problem. We will have school Mondays through Thursdays, however, so we can only go out of town to visit places Thursday afternoon through Sunday night. That would still be fine for us, but if you want to go to Machu Picchu, for example, you would then leave here and go on by yourself (or with Mom). We think we will go to MP for Spring Break, despite the huge cost. If you don't come down then, we'll probably have a few students with us; but if you do, then we'll go solo K4.

About the Prius, we'll be too broke to buy your car when we return, especially since we're going to MP. So sell it. Congrats on your truck!

Look on American to find out when Mom can use our frequent flier miles, please, when you're deciding to book. We'll be in Brazil, by the way, on my birthday (I can't remember the exact dates, but I can find them out; it's a Friday to Friday, though), so you could fly there as well and join us, or you could avoid those dates, whichever.

Love you, Derek!
Karen