Hi Guys....so i went jouvert and I had a ball, my legs are like mush now but at least I was able to get some rest as no one goes to work on Ash Wednesday and as I have my own Business I am definitely not going anywhere. Jouvert was on Carnival Monday morning, we got up at 2am got ready in out costumes and headed out to the meeting point which is The Oval. The Oval also happens to be where most of the top Cricket matches are played, but that's an aside.When we arrived we parked then you head straight for the drinks truck as with any jouvert band your fee includes breakfast, drinks and bathroom amenities (we usually have a portable bathroom truck on the road with us). We got our drinks...a rum and coke for me and my husband got scotch and coconut water. We then waited around for our friends, if you're hungry there are individuals selling corn soup and doubles. 2 great staples in any Trinidad lime. I didn't get any as my fee included breakfast later when we returned from the dancing through the streets.

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Then the trucks start moving out followed by every single person all wearing the same cooky outfit. See the video below. The theme for our jouvert band which is called Duck Crew was Cat in a Hat, so we wore red and white striped socks and hats and tees with the duck crew mascot. Fun and funny. As we left, and it was sooooo early in the morning it was dark and all the flickering lights came from our top cat in a hat hats. Too cute.

So that was me at the beginning...I forgot to mention that while we wait to leave we go get rubbed down with paint. Jouvert is al about being messy, some bands use cocoa to mess you up, some paint, some mud, some powder, some powder and paint....it doesn't matter what is used but each band prides themselves on being the best at whatever medium they use to mess you up.

Once we're on the road then i tend to stick close to the music truck so I can hear and dance to the music an we follow the trucks as they head to the Savannah Stage where we normally cross the carnival Stage and jump like we've never jumped before. Of course there is also a lot of "wining" and gyrating and doing whatever dance move you feel drawn to do. It is just a time to let go of all stresses, feel free to just enjoy yourself with great people, dance all through the streets and simply have loads of fun. Mant people have freinds who come to Trinidad just to experience our Carnival because it's unlike any anywhere els....take it from me....it's very different.

Now this band is bbbbbiiiigggg, I mean it wrapps around the corner and just goes on. See here.

As fas as you could look you're seeing red striped hats...lol and i'm short so I couldn't give you a great overhead view and it's dark because it was so dam earlyyyyy!!!! let me see if I can give you a better view when it's gotten a little brighter. We tend to parade and dance through the streets from 3:45 am to 9:00am and when we get back to our starting point at the Oval that's when we GET BREAKFAST!!!! because after frolicking through the streets for hours one builds up a major appetite...actually I tend not to be too hungry..anyway look at another video.

So we're back at the starting point and this is what we look like as everyone starts going to the different tents to get their breakfast which is part of what you get in the cost of being in the band. compared to many Trinis I haven't been playing jouvert for very long...this year is my sixth or seventh year...there are people who've been playing since they were 6years old in bands like the blue devils and black bats. It's even a tradition with some families that every year the family plays and they pass it down from generation to generation.

As I mentioned I've played with basically 2 bands...Cocoa Devils and now the Duck Crew. Why? because both bands are very well organised, there is a lot of security so no unknowns can enter or come between the masqueraders and bother us, and they are well organised for food, transport, security, bathroom facilities and more. These were some of my former Jouvert times:

2016 Cocoa Devils, 2017 Duck Crew, 2018 Duck Crew 2019 Rest, 2020 Duck Crew

Here is an view of the band and see the last video below to see us getting breakfast.

I apologise in advance for how the video turns, I guess I lay down from tiredness.... lol

So Guys....that's all for now...I beat! I'll check you all next week. I may put all these videos together and make one for youtube. You can always check there if you're not seeing the vidoes well here....my channel is Gafra's Smart Art.Bye guys...luv yuh !!!