CARNIVAL

The Notting Hill Carnival was amazing! We started out the day watching an energetic and vibrant parade filled with music, costumes and Caribbean culture. Once the parade ended, the streets turned into a moving dance party with each block hosting a different DJ, or sound system. We moved from Euro Pop, to reggae to individual drummers and rappers on the street.


The streets smelled of spicy-sweet barbeque and produce as tents on the sidewalk became bustling mini-markets selling fried plantains, fresh coconut, sugar cane and authentic Caribbean and Latin meals. I opted for a Brazilian fish croquette for a snack, and Jeff, Rebs and I stopped off at Harlem (which had closed its doors but opened one window to quench the thirst of the masses) for a rum punch. Luckily, our friendly neighborhood bartender from two nights ago was manning the window and let Rebs and I shake our own cocktails. Delicious. We walked from street to street stopping off in front of each DJ both for a couple of songs. People aged six to 66 were at this carnival just rocking out and celebrating different cultures.


For lunch Rebs and I got Jamaican jerk chicken with rice and salad, and Jeff ordered lamb curry with the same. The curry was the best I’ve ever had and the chicken was perfectly crisp and flavorful. We ate sitting on the side of the street listening to a DJ tell everyone to “shake what your mamma gave ya!”


After we ate we showed Notting Hill how to rock a Long Island fist pump and then went on to the next block where we purchased and sucked down sugar cane. After dancing a bit more, we made our way back to our hotel for a nap. We drank some Carling before heading out to walk around again, and made our way to a Chinese restaurant for dinner. The food (stir-fried noodles with vegetables, sweet and sour chicken and beef with black bean sauce) tasted as it would have in the U.S., but was twice the price. We did get a bit of entertainment for our buck, though, when a guy ran into the restaurant screaming, (in a British accent) “Get that girl away from me!” I nearly died thinking that this guy was coming in to shoot someone, but he was soon escorted out by the police, and we continued to eat the sliced oranges that came with our check. After a walk to Kensington Gardens and some ice cream from illy, we picked a spot at a chic Mexican restaurant for a drink before calling it a night. Great day, tomorrow it’s off to Harrods for tea!