Carnival celebrations around the world

by Anna Brones on

Vibrant music, zesty dancing, bright colors and more fun and absurdity than a lot of people can handle. Carnival anyone? For the pre-Lent partying season our minds tend to automatically think of New Orleans and Rio, but the event is in fact celebrated around the world. A few places to spice up a dreary winter before Lent kicks in:

Dominica: A small and happy island almost hidden in the Lesser Antilles, Dominica is not to be forgotten during Carnival season. Here, the local Creole expression, More Fete Less Twaka (more party less talk), rings true. Soca competitions, a Carnival beer garden, some street jams and a Miss Dominica Pageant. What more could you want from an early winter Caribbean vacation?

Munich: The Munich Carnival, or “Fasching,” is often referred to as Germany’s “Fifth Season,” when the local population truly lets loose. People crowd the streets, pretzel vendors run abound and beer runs freely. Think Oktoberfest but with confetti, masquerade balls and elaborate parades.

Venice: This year’s theme, Sensation: 6 sensations for 6 neighborhoods, says it all. Venice has been enjoying its celebrations for centuries, and through the years it has evolved into a well-known time for wild festivities. The main feature: masks. If you don’t have your own, not to worry, there are plenty of mask makers throughout the city ready to take your order.

Rijeka: Croatia’s biggest carnival was once one of the most important in Europe. Around 150 carnival groups from a dozen different countries attract over 120,000 visitors. One of the days is designated as children’s carnival, attracting 6,000 little ones. And don’t forget to check out the Zvoncari groups: men dressed up in animal skins, complete with horned masks, frantically dancing to the eerie sound of clanging bells.

Goa: India might not be the first place you would expect to find Carnival, but introduced by the Portuguese who ruled Goa for over 500 years, the celebration is still enjoyed today. Although primarily a Christian event, the Goa Carnival has absorbed many Hindu traditions, making it an extravagant event a true sight for the eyes.


Mardi Gras beads by the handfuls: What to do with them?

by Jamie Rhein on

I’ve never been to Mardi Gras but I have beads. My first few came from a good college friend of mine who came back from New Orleans with a smile on his face and tales of forgetting that he’s from a “nice” family. Not really, I do know he had a grand time and bought beads back for everyone.

Acquiring lots of beads and trinkets is one way to measure how much of a good time one had at a Mardi Gras parade. I imagine the experience is like a giant pinata that takes forever to empty–all those colors flying.

These beads have been part of Mardi Gras since 1920s when throwing trinkets to spectators started to become a feature. The original “throws” (what is thrown) were cheap glass beads instead of the lightweight plastic ones of today. [Check out this National Geographic article for a detailed history.]

If Mardi Gras beads rain your way there are some things you can do with them once you get them home. Here are directions for how to make a floor lamp. You can also knit a scarf. How about a bead dog?

I bet you could glue those beads on about anything. Buy a cheap picture frame, cover it with beads and show off your favorite Mardi Gras snapshot. That’s my idea.

Nickelodeon cruise with Sponge Bob and Dora to set sail

by Catherine Bodry on

If you’re a bit tired of the monopoly Disney has on family cruises, perk up — Nickelodeon has joined the industry with its own themed cruise. The media company rented a ship from Royal Caribbean (the Freedom of the seas, the largest in the industry), which it will sail to Mexico, Jamaica, Grand Cayman, and a private beach in Haiti. Currently, only one trip is scheduled, though the company remains open to more sailings if tickets go quickly.

Nickelodeon is following in Disney’s mouseprints in more than just Caribbean cruising; its first theme park will open at the Mall of America in March, and after that it will break ground for the first of 20 planned Nickelodeon resorts.

Alaska winter road report

by Catherine Bodry on

I live 126 miles from a city, so if I need to catch a plane, hit up Fred Meyer’s or give in to my craving for Mexican food, I’ve got to drive a long way through several mountain passes. The winter can be especially freaky — I’ve driven through white-outs so severe I couldn’t tell if I was in a white-out or an avalanche. And from time to time, avalanches do stream across the road. But Mexican food occasionally calls too loudly to ignore, so I drive to Anchorage as often as once or twice a month.

But since I wrecked my car last winter, I drive like a half-blind snail, always in fear of losing traction on the ice and generally pissing off every driver behind me. Thus, I’m addicted to calling the road report, where a computerized “man” informs me haltingly and with no emotion whatsoever to, “Look out for snow on the roadway. Look out for blowing snow on the roadway. Look out for ice on the roadway. Look out for black ice on the roadway. Look out for glaze ice on the roadway.” The longer the list, the worse the drive.

But the road report website is also great because you can see the entire state. I love clicking on various hazards, many of which fall under the “only in Alaska” category. The one above caught my eye, because seriously, is there anywhere else in the world where a herd of caribou might cause a traffic hazard?

Groundhog Day: Look out for Phil

by Jamie Rhein on

If you head to Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania on February 2, Groundhog Day, you’ll find a town that knows how to throw itself a good time in the middle of winter. This is where the groundhog is looked to with humorous reverence just in case he might herald in an early spring if the 2nd is cloudy. Regardless of what the groundhog does, there are activities all day long–a few that stand out as purely Punxsutawney. It’s not called “home of the groundhog” for any old reason.

Sensibly, the Groundhog Jog is at 2:00 in the afternoon. Why get up early in the winter to run? It’s cold in Punxsutawney this time of year. A person’s joints need some time to warm up.

Phil’s Dream Wedding at 2:30 really intrigues me. Do groundhogs get married? Do people? Another unusual happening is ice fishing on an area lake. If your birthday is the same as Phil’s and you can prove it with an ID card, you can join in Phil’s birthday celebration.

If you ever are in Punxsutawney for Groundhog’s Day or any other time, look for the statues of Phil. These are the type where area artists start out with the same basic template and create their own versions. There are 32 painted fiberglass statues gracing the fronts of the town’s significant buildings and businesses.