Port of Spain, Trinidad
I just registered to play mas in this band for Carnival: http://www.barbarossaintl.com/sections.htm
I’ve lost five pounds and need to lose another eight or so to pull this off (if it’s possible to pull it off at age 48!). The section I’m in is Doux Doux, the blue costume, but I’m having them make me a different headpiece because I didn’t come here to wear no cowboy hat in Carnival. “Mas” means masquerade and the camp is where they make the costumes and throw parties in the months leading up to Carnival. The “band” refers to the group you play with, but there will be a steelband on a truck and other music and lots to drink, of course. It’s on March 3-4. We have room for guests.
Jill
“Effect: The Pum-Pum shorts would make you feel to wine.”
Hee-hee, sounds like lots of fun! I’m on a “going-to-Trinidad” diet myself for a birding vacation in February - too many holiday chocolates (damn you Godiva and See’s and your scrumptiously delicious truffles). I wish we were going late enough to include Carnival or that it was sooner. I could use some fun and laughter now.
Pum-Pum shorts - the name alone makes me wanna dance.
I wanna see pictures of you in that costume, Jill!
I’m sure you’re going to have lots and lots of fun in Trinidad.
I used to live there when I was in elementary school and I remember carnival time being the most exciting time of the year. Make sure to attend the steel band concerts and watch all the elaborate costumes, because some of them can get really spectacular. Oh, and try to avoid the local moonshine (I think it was called babash), because that stuff will probably get you sick.
“Wine” is a kind of dancing and Pum Pum shorts are basically a bikini that isn’t a thong (I sure hope it’s not a thong). Please let me know when you’ll be here for your birding trip! I met a bunch of birders at the Blue Waters Inn in northern Tobago (you can tell birdwatchers, because they wear binoculars to breakfast) and saw lots of fabulous birds. Still haven’t made it to the Asa Wright Reserve. Tell me the date you’ll be there and I’ll try to make it up there. Oilbirds, you know.
Jill
Gad, that sounds like fun, Jill.
But it just confirms what we always said about you. “Now that Jill,” we’d say, “she’s just so stuffy. If only she’d break out of her shell and try something new.” ::snickers::
Veb
My cousin goes there every year. Say hi to him! He’ll be easy to spot. Just look for a dancing black guy. 
Oh, that narrows it down!
He’ll spot me anyway - the middle aged white lady wining between all the dancing black guys.
(my family will be home hiding under the bed until Carnival is over).
We’re supposed to be at the Asa Wright from February 15-21. I’m trying to find a copy of Murphy’s “Birder’s Guide” book but being out of print, it’s hard to find. Boy, looking at the bird checklist, there are species I haven’t even heard of, like the Golden-fronted Greenlet or the Ruddy-breasted Seedeater. Very cool!
It looks like they’ll have us pretty busy, but if you make it up to the Asa Wright, let’s do a miniTrinidopefest!
I’d love to come up to Asa Wright. Any chance I can join you just for the oilbird trek? Otherwise, let me know when your free day is and I’ll try to come up then. You will love the town of Blanchisseuse. Kind of wild coastline (not your classic turquoise flat water and white beach) - very beautiful.
You can see the “green rumped parrotlets” in my kitchen. I have two of them I bought for $5 each.