Kerry and I returned to beautiful Cajamarca last week Sunday. We arrived to the house about 12:00. I went to work on Monday and fought through the altitude sickness and the jet lag. We had a week of in services and preparing for the kids who will start on Tuesday.
Kerry has been walking and had a strange thing happen to her one day. She was walking and this big truck went by and some guys in the back threw a bucket of water at her. Luckily, it mostly missed her. A day or so later, the same thing happened. Since we have been here, we have never had any negative things happen to us, no hostile behavior, mostly only curiosity. This was strange to have this happen and we wondered what was going on.
I went to work and started to inquire. It didn't take long to find out that Kerry had been "Carnivaled". After the Cajamarca Anniversary on January 3rd, the locals begin the carnival tradition of throwing water at people; and Carnival is a verb. I was told that people like to "carnival" between the anniversary and the actual Carnival which is March 1-3rd. Yes, two months of people throwing water at other people out of their trucks, house windows or whatever.
This will be our first Carnival season in Cajamarca which has the best Carnival in all of Perú. I have been trying to find out what the traditions are and what to expect of the actual Carnival days of March 1st through the 3rd which is a Saturday through Monday; Monday is a national holiday. So here is what I have found out so far.
Saturday is in Banos, where we live. The locals party in the main square, there is music and dancing all day. I guess it's pretty calm, water balloons and buckets of water, not too bad. In the evening, more dancing and drinking and I guess some ladies will wipe some plastery powder on your face it's a gentle thing and done with affection... : )
Sunday is the dirtiest day to go out and about. In the afternoon there is a parade of people through town, individuals, no floats. While this is happening people throw balloons and buckets full of water, paint and oil at people. There is also some kind of plaster powder that they throw at you as well that makes it a bit more messy; as if the water, oil and paint wasn't enough. The evening is more partying and dancing but it changes to only the throwing of water, no more oil and paint.
Monday is the main parade with people and floats and it sounds really cool. I think they are still throwing water but it is more about the parade. I am not sure about the evening but I would bet there is more dancing and partying.
I was invited to one of my teacher's houses and I guess she has a balcony which is a perfect perch for throwing water balloons at people. I can't wait!
Today we walked to the mall and are relaxing the rest of the day until a band starts sometime around 7:00 on our street..All part of carnivalling in Cajamarca!!!
