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Peru
Carnaval de Aguas Calientes
Watch out when some carnaval traditions escalate around you! It's not that you just get a little wet, you also might get powdered with flour and sprayed with shaving cream. If you are lucky, you might even get a hand drawn abstract painting on your face. A great fun battle between men and women with a clear winner.
Shooting Location: Aguas Calientes
Coordinates: 22°37'11.4"N 97°18'01.6"E
Anyone who visits the legendary Inca city of Machu Picchu in South America, will end up at Aguas Calientes. The little town sits at the foot of the mountain and is completely geared towards the thousands of UNESCO World Heritage Site tourists who arrive every day. Hundreds of restaurants, souvenir stands and hotels force their way down to Urubamba’s valley floor along the river Willkamyu.
When I opened my eyes in Aguas Calientes in the early hours of the morning following my visit to Machu Picchu, I did not just feel my feet aching from all the walking the day before, but also a very distinct, culinary craving: for choc-o-late cake! You could of course find candy on every street corner in Peru, but I hadn’t had a slice of chocolate brownie, chocolate muffin or just chocolate cake in weeks. I inquired after my landlady as to a “special” bakery and then marched on through the hustle and bustle of the locals in the narrow alleys down to the river.
On the way down to the valley the natives suddenly turned left and right at a small, insignificant crossroad, despite the fastest way to the bottom being straight ahead. I didn’t think anything of it at the time and continued straight on. I wondered briefly why the footpath was so wet, when suddenly a water balloon hit me in the neck. Two more balloons only just missed me. I leapt toward the wall of the next house and found refuge beneath a balcony. I gazed upward and saw that at least a dozen children had entrenched themselves on a balcony opposite, bombarding hapless adults with balloons filled with water. Before I could warn the next unsuspecting victim, he was sopping wet and fairly disoriented. I beckoned the man over to me as the children on the balcony burst into victory chants.
A door opened behind us and an old lady gave us some towels. She apologized to us for the children, who she said were apparently “strictly forbidden” from attacking tourists. I smiled at her kindness and made her understand that I ought to be more careful. The lady explained to me that the water fights were a part of the Carnival and that one was taking place on the sports field at that very moment. My ears perked up on hearing the word “fight”, for it surely guaranteed a few promising photos. I said “thank you” and stole back along the wall of the house out of the danger zone.
I forgot all about the chocolate cake, fetched my camera and set out for the playing field …
Incidentally, the white foam on the faces of those participating in the Carnival came out of spray cans which not only reminded me a lot of shaving foam but tasted like it too. These spray cans were labeled "Nieve Artificial Para Cotillón", which translates to “Artificial Party Snow” and each one contained half a liter of foam. During Carnival, you can find these spray cans from Columbia down to Argentina at the odd street stall or department store in big crates. The recommended combat range - 1.5 meters; however, the optimal range - much closer… ;-)