Caribbean Carnival on an American Archipelago – St. Thomas Jump Up!
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The annual Carnival celebrations in St. Thomas and the St. Croix Triathalon have strengthened the.U.S. Virgin Islands fame as the number one destination for travelers worldwide at a time when the 2003 edition of USA Today ranked the Carnival among the top 10 in the world. (Photo above: Arryl Donovan with the Inferno Troup in his dragon costume )
A beaming Commissioner of Tourism Pamela C. Richards noted: "I've always known that the pageantry of our Carnival celebrations was extraordinary. It's incredibly encouraging to have a highly-read national publication feel the same way."
The article, "10 Great Places For Pre-Lenten Bacchannalia", outlined the top 10 pre-and post-Lenten festivals in the world. St. Thomas's Carnival was recognized for its African and European customs, including music, dancing and masquerades, and touted as one of the largest Spring Carnival celebrations in the Caribbean. Events for the 2003 celebration got underway on April 6 and ended on May 4.
Fifty-five troupes in bright holiday wear, towering Mocko Jumbies, steel pan bands and double decker trucks rocking under the pressure of tramping fans as well as twirling majorettes, thrilled thousands of revellers as they marched from Western Cemetery to Lionel Roberts Stadium.
The revellers took to the streets in a display of gaiety and splendor, matched only by the brightly colored attire of the participants who jumped up and gyrated to the melodious tunes and rhythms of several leading bands.
Onlookers dressed in multi-colored holiday attire and a rainbow of colors could not resist getting into the act by jumping up, screeming, shouting and singing along to the pulsating rhythms and tunes being belted out by the various bands in the Adult Parade.
Carnival Queen 2003 Janelle Sarauw captivated the crowd with her charming smile and constant waving to the onlookers. Montserrat's small troupe of masqueraders made their way down Main Street cracking whips against the pavement, while Hugga Bunch, one of the largest troupes with floats, included some 300 dangers. Cherri Boynes-Jackson led Hugga Bunch down Main Street in her Carmen Miranda Samba Queen costume for she won Queen of the Band. The bright pink costume, about 12 feet tall and about nine feet across, was so massive that Jackson had to attach wheels to it so that two hour crawl along Main Street would go smoothly.
Members of the Jus' Action troupe poured bottled water over themselves and squirted water over each other with water guns to keep cool under a blazing sun.
Other performers included the traditional Indians, dressed in mutli-colored feathered headdresses, beating drums and intermittently echoing Native American war cries.
The crowd was thrilled with the participants of a Capoeira exhibition given by a group of half a dozen men and women, who somersaulted and performed karate like stunts in front of Market Square and Emancipation Garden accompanied by Brazilian music.
Another troupe, The Party Lovers dressed up in traditional African outfits included five sections of men and women, dressed in brilliant costumes with tiger stripes, leopard spots and shades of yellow and purple and drew rounds of applause from the onlookers.
The Gathering Troupe was adorned in traditional costumes from tribes in North Africa and New Guinea. The large troupe danced in four different sections in Post Office Square before gathering together to march towards the Stadium as the crowd eagerly anticipated their arrival.
There was additional thrill and excitement as the Skydancers Mocko Jumbie troupe from the British Virgin Islands performed. The members exhibited limber and acrobatic performances, hopping on one stilt at times to the delight of the crowd. Arryl Donovan with the Inverno Troupe sparked quite an excitement with his huge dragon costume as he moved from side to side.
Calypso Monarch Whadablee won the coveted crown for the fifth consecutive time on St. Thomas and remained undisputed champion.
He took home a first prize of $5,000 and the glory of winning for the fifth consecutive time. Other winners were Road March, first place Jocky Jam Band, and Grammy Jam Band and Crazy Man Immigration tied for the second place.
In the Adults Parade, with floupes with more than 300 members, Escoe and Associates, Bacchanal Time won first while Hugga Bunch came in first with the floupe with more than 100 members.
In the Float Parade, Gypsy...the Bounty came in first while University of the Virgin Islands came in second and Angels Wings placed third.
As the curtains drew to a close on St. Thomas, thousands were gearing up for the 14th Annual St. Croix Half Ironman International Triathlon. Some 750 athletes took part in what has become an event that features courage, determination, endurance, and physical strength.
The athletes have to complete a rigorous three part course that traverses the picturesque terrain and tranquil blue waters of St. Croix. The competition starts with a 1.24 mile swim from Protestant Cay to the wharf area of Christensted. Fresh out of the water, the racers then begin a 56-mile bike ride on a challenging course that travels through lush tropical forests and alongside the Caribbean Sea. During the course the riders.confront the notorious uphill stretch of twisting road known as "The Beast" that averages a grade of 14 percent as it climbs 600 vertical feet in seven-tenths of a mile. Competitors then conclude the face with a 13.1 mile run that circles the grounds of the Bucaneer Hotel and finishes in the historic town of Christensted.
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Edwin Ali, Jetsetters Magazine Correspondent – Read Jetsetters Magazine at www.jetsettersmagazine.com To book travel visit Jetstreams.com at www.jetstreams.com and for Beach Resorts visit Beach Booker at www.beachbooker.com
About the Author
Edwin Ali, Jetsetters Magazine Correspondent. Join the Travel Writers Network in the logo at www.jetsettersmagazine.com Leave Your email next to the logo for FREE e travel newsletter.