I must be honest in that I didn’t expect a big carnival when the Seychelles Tourism
Board invited me to their third Seychelles carnival. Big it was. Carnival fever
was in the air and all around. Twenty or so floats were put together by groups
from abroad, spanning the globe from Brazil to China, the United States to Russia,
from South Africa to Zimbabwe, and from India to Italy and more.
The streets were lined with locals and foreign visitors standing several
deep on the sidewalks, and those with the wish to see better, found vantage
points on rocks, trees and buildings, as the parade made its way through the center
of capitol of Seychelles, Victoria.
Colourful costume creations, well-chosen music, and, of course, dance
routines and performances showed that the “carnival of carnivals,” the Carnaval
International de Victoria, is here to stay, becoming a magnet for all carnival
nations from around the world wanting to participate in Africa’s number one
carnival show. Also in the parade of dancing & costumes, two navy units
from India and Russia, took part in performing a traditional march past, with
the Russians performing their goose step routine and stealing the show.
Thank you for Berjaya Beau Vallon that accommodated us in their lovely hotel
on the North Coast of Mahé Island. Thank you to Air Seychelles for getting us
to Seychelles and back and thank you to the Seychelles Tourism Board who
invited me to see this spectacular.
Until next year for Seychelles Carnival 2014 when we shall meet again.
By Juan Nel
No comments:
Post a Comment