Carnival Week on Cozumel is one of the most colourful and biggest
celebrations in Mexico. It is a week of parades, dance, costumes, music and street
carnivals.
We could hear the faint sound of drums from our condo.
Carnival in Cozumel - by David Hammer.
As we walked in the tropical twilight toward the parade the music
became louder.
We heard a mixture of calypso, reggae, flamingo and
pop; each distinct but blending into a cultural mix, like the people of Cozumel.
Carnival week on Cozumel is one of the most colourful and biggest
celebrations in Mexico.
It is a week of parades, dance, costumes, music and street carnivals.
Cozumel Dancers.
Almost all work stops and everyone joins in the dancing and
celebration.
Schools, clubs, and community organisations spend weeks making floats,
costumes, and practising their dances and music.
The competition increases every year and the result is evident in the
elaborate costumes and floats.
Child in Costume, Cozumel.
Children are a big part of the celebration.
From the darling four year old in the horse drawn wagon to the hip
teenagers, all join in the excitement; until they fall asleep about 2 a.m., watching their
parents still dancing.
Tourists are encouraged to participate and dance. Some join in the
parades, especially those who can really dance or play an instrument. The warmth of the
people is never more evident than during Carnival.
Cozumel - © David Hammer.
One of the reasons I decided to build a home on Cozumel is because
my family and I always feel safe and welcome, even walking home at three in the morning.
The mixture of cultures, international cuisine, great diving,
beautiful beaches and the warmth of the people are the other reasons.
There are a wide variety of accommodations, from beachfront
hotels to condos and small apartments in town.
For a one-week vacation during Carnival, a condo near the beach and
the central plaza, but a few blocks from the constant noise, is often the best value;
especially if it has a pool and other amenities.
Cozumel has an international airport and flights arrive daily from the
United States. Continental flies non-stop from Houston.
And if you can't make it here for Carnival, Cozumel is well known
as one of the premier diving destinations in the world.
By David Hammer.
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