Log Entry: February 28
        
         We went to two Childrens  Carnivals.  The first Kiddies  Carnival had the
        different bands (groups) going across a stage where we sat and took pictures.   The
        second Kiddies  Carnival had the different bands walking through the streets of
        Port-of-Spain where we were up close and personal..... and took pictures!!!  There
        also was a Carnival called Viey La Cou which is exactly what the title says...Old
        Time Carnival.  All the characters of the Carnival were from the first Carnivals in
        Trinidad with the history of each character explained.  The last event we went to
        was the semifinals for the King s and Queen s costumes.  They were an extravagant
        display of creativity using everything from natural seeds and branches to mylar,
        steel and fiberglass and costing many thousands of dollars and many months to
        complete. We were truly impressed and awe stricken.
         We went to the Moko Jumbies again and I went to 4.5 feet.  I felt like I was ten
        feet tall!!!  It was great fun and Rudy and I appreciate fully the kids and young
        adults who walk and dance for up to ten hours during Carnival!!!!  (They were
        marching behind us for Pretty Mas)
         J'Ouvert came at 1:00 a.m. on Monday,   February 26th.  This is Trinidad's
        process of "awakening the day".   J'Ouvert is the darkness before the beauty of the
        light, the beauty that takes the Trinis back to the days when,  (clothed only in
        scraps and dirt)  they worshipped each other as a newly freed people.  Some people
        enjoy frolicking in the cool morning; while others enjoy the chance to wear mud
        and paint and smear it on others.  Then there are those who sing, chip and whine
        with the very loud music trucks with anyone and everyone!!   We tried and did
        everything as Yachties in moderation,  not as Trinis!!!
         Pretty Mas came at 5:00 a.m. on Tuesday,   February 27th.  It is one last
        glorious outburst of creativity, song, music, motion and color before the sober,
        more spiritual 40 days of Lent.  It has a long history from both European and
        African traditions which celebrates many sides of life including death, and fear, as
        well as beauty, energy and enthusiasm. We joined the Mas Camp called Legends
        in one of their 15 sections called Aqua Zone.  There were 200 people in each
        section and this was NOT the largest of the 25+ Mas Camps.  People walked across
        the stage in many different colors and costumes, all having themes and history, 
        from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. nonstop.  We recorded this day on our VCR and actually
        saw ourselves on Trini TV!!!   It has been an exhausting couple of weeks and we
                will rest up before leaving Trinidad for places not decided as of yet!