MONTEVIDEO PART IV: CARNIVAL CANDOMBE

First of all I have to say a great big THANK YOU to Gabriel for being such a star and showing me all of the cultural and traditional treats that Montevideo has to offer! So exciting!!! UN BESO GRANDE!!

Here you can see my friend, Gabriel in the red cap leading the Candombe through the streets of Montevideo. The dancers are at the front. (I was dancing at the back and hiding!!).

Click here for a few more photos. Click here for a video of these guys (including the dancers) and click here for a candombe group auditioning for the carnival in February with spectacular lead dancers. You would be right if you thought that the dance is very similar to Samba - both have African origins, and with the pounding drumbeat (approx.40 drummers) you just have to move to it!!!!

I promise you shortly a video of me dancing candombe at the back, where I thought I was out of sight. If I had known that someone was videoing me I'd never have danced!!!! According to Gabriel and his friends I am a natural!!! (:

MONTEVIDEO PART I

My Montevideo stay can be split into 4 parts:

Part I = Montevideo: Friends
Click here for some fun photos of my fantastic friends who I miss a lot!!

Part II = Montevideo: Sun, Sea, Sunsets
see next posts
Part III = Montevideo: Carnival Murga
see next posts
Part IV = Montevideo: Carnival Candombe
see next posts

MONTEVIDEO PART III: MURGA

Murga is the dramatical-political part of Uruguay's carnival. It consists of a group of say 10 singers that chant political satire in an a capella style, accompanied by 2 or 3 drummers. The members of each Murga wear the same costume and have the most elaborate and impressive make-up. Each Murga's performance lasts about 20 minutes and is very much like a drama sketch.

Click here for photos. Click here for a video. I apologise for the quality of some of the photos - I couldn't get close enough from the front and it was dark!! If anyone wants to give me a lesson in how to use my camera when I'm back in London this Christmas, I'd appreciate it!!!

MONTEVIDEO PART II: SUN, SEA, SUNSETS

Unfortunately I haven't had much work here in Montevideo, so I've been forced to expose myself to lots of sun, sea, beach and sunsets! (: Here are some photos of Montevideo and of Pocitos beach where I live with Sacha.