‘Carnaval’ having taken place on Tuesday it’s taken until this morning to retrieve ships papers and get our passports stamped for exit – originally we were told to turn up on Monday, but various offices have been shut or the key man unavailable until this morning.

 

Some pictures from Carnaval – it’s so hectic and so crowded and colourful that they’re only a sample.

 

Full of floats and bands and everyone dressed up, including many children’s processions.

 

Elf and Safety not so much in evidence: this lassie looked much happier once on top of her dragon!

 

 

The audience dress up as well and anything goes.

 

But despite the revels, the lasting impression is of a bustling port city.

 

Mercy with one of her beautifully made flags

 

And the final stop before departure was the vegetable market.

 

2040 miles to go, but passage through the doldrums around the equator so anything from 14 to 21 days we reckon.