Aruba - Carubbian Festival

On Thursday evening, we decided to go to San Nicholas to check out the Carubbian Festival.  A co-worker of mine was in Aruba back in January (she also stayed at the Renaissance!), and she said that the festival was a 'must see'. 

Thursday morning, I talked to one of the maids at our hotel and she also encouraged us to go...she actually tried to organize a small tour for a few people at the hotel, but it didn't work out in the end.  So, we decided to just take the bus to the festival, about 30 minutes away.  Unfortunately, we had a bit of trouble getting the bus!  We had two options when we left our hotel, walk about fifteen minutes one direction to the bus terminal, or about five minutes the other direction to a bus stop...so, we went to the bus stop.  Or, what we thought was supposed to be a bus stop?!? 

After walking for about 10 minutes, we still hadn't come across a bus stop, but we did come across this 'Aruba' sign...so, we stopped for the photo op...

 We learned later that the buses travel this road to get back to the terminal, but don't make stops on the main road...had we gone a block or two off the main road, we may have been able to find a bus stop.  So, having tried unsuccessfully to flag down three different buses, we walked all the way back to the main bus station and got a bus there within 10 minutes.  Oooops, good thing we weren't on the Amazing Race!

So, by the time we actually arrived in San Nicholas we had missed the 'show/concert' portion of the festival.  But, there was still plenty to see! 

We walked along the main stretch of road checking out the vendors, and the crowds, and then found something to eat...

Curt also had a beer, just to add to the experience (Aruba has some liberal liquor laws, you're allowed to drink on the streets...anytime...not just at Carubbian Festival!!)

Thankfully, we made it in time to catch the main attraction, the Carnival parade that wraps things up at the end of the night.  I haven't been to New Orleans, but I would like to think what we saw in Aruba is a small sample of what Mardi Gras would be like.

The band that led the parade...

An example of the amazing costumes...

 And I couldn't resist getting my picture taken with one of the performers...

Once the parade is over, things wrap up pretty quickly...so, we made our way back to the San Nicholas bus terminal and made our way back to Oranjestad.  Despite the issues we had getting there, going to Carubbian Festival was definitely worth it!  And, we're so glad we didn't miss the parade!