I’m Off to Colombia

Growing up as a Lutheran in the Upper Midwest, Lent was only modestly observed, and there was certainly no thought of a Carnival preceding it. In recent years, I have followed somewhat enviously the annual Brazilian Carnival. I didn’t know that they had one in Colombia too, but this year, Reuters went to Barranquilla, Colombia. It turns out they have Carnival there. Do they ever:

This is the kind of festival we want to encourage here in Minnesota. Except, of course, it’s a little early for bikinis in February.
UPDATE: I’ve just learned that in 2003, UNESCO declared Barranquilla’s carnival to be a Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. Who knew? I liked that photo a lot, but I had no idea I was participating in the Intangible Heritage of Humanity.