Carnival in Ambato-Ecuador by Josselyne Sarango

 
It was a spectacular day in the west of Ecuador. The sun was shining and a slow breeze toured the room. I had been to San Pedro, my village, for a month, and my journey coincided with the carnival festival.

My village isn´t very big and no more than 200 habitants live there. Here The Carnival is the most important celebration, and during 2 days (2ª and 3ª March) all the village comes alive.

So in those days I wanted to see all the different parades, costumes and fireworks. That morning after I had got up and I was ready to go to the square, my little cousin, Dilan threw me an enormous water balloon. I dried while he was laughing.

After a while, he explained me that it is a habit to throw water to the people in carnival, and if I had known that joke, I would have done to it. In the afternoon we went to a big city (I don´t remember the name). All the streets were full, and music sounded all around. Suddenly many floats appeared in front of me and many dancers started to dance. The rhythm was so infectious that in a few minutes I was dancing too. The hours passed quickly, until the time to return home came.

When I returned home I saw in the night sky a lot of colourful fireworks and lights. That day was very special. If I hadn´t been there, I would have lost another culture.

Some years later I discovered that the place that I had been was Ambato, the capital of Carnivals in Ecuador. It´s typical to see the fruits and flowers parades and the craft fairs.

It is the most beautiful Carnival celebration that I have ever seen.

Levante-Osasuna, Carnival time to disguise

 
Good morning, dear Osasunists! This afternoon Osasuna play in Valencia against Levante at the stadium of Ciutat de València, where two teams will confront their good moment in La Liga as the home players have not lost a game in the last seven weeks and the visitors have added seven out of the nine last possible points.

After those figures, it is clear that Levante have improved a lot since the start of the season and their position in La Liga is out of the dangerous positions and just two points away of the posts that give a passport to Europe.

On the other hand, Osasuna players did their best in all the games played in La Liga this season last Sunday at El Sadar against Atletico ( 3-0 ) and supporters expect to see a continuation of that game as a victory would get closer the final target of the season: avoiding relegation, and the three points would reach the rival of the day: Levante.

The defences will play a very important role in both teams. Andres Fernandez didn't have to take any football from his goals in the last three matches and Levante haven't lost since last January against Valencia at Mestalla ( 2-0 ).

As we always say, Osasuna is a powerful team away from El Sadar with three victories against Málaga (0-1), Valladolid (0-1) and Betis (1-2). Javier Gracia's team got a draw against Celta (1-1), Granada (0-0), and Elche (0-0). Besides Caparros's team have only obtained four victories out of twelve games played at Ciutat de Valencia stadium: RCD Espanyol (3-0), Elche (2-1), Málaga (1-0) and Almería (1-0).

As we usually say lately, the goalaverage is another important issue now. Levante won at (0-1) in the last minutes of the match played at El Sadar and there is a kind of revenge in the Navarrian team. The results in Valencia are in favour of Osasuna as "los rojillos" ( The Little Reds ) have won three of the last six games played in that stadium in La Liga in First Division, and the last two visits ended with the same final score ( 0-2 ).
Possible kickoff teams:
Levante: Navas; Vyntra, Navarro, Juanfran, Nikos, Rubén, Diop, Mate, Ivanschitz, Víctor, Barral.
Osasuna: Andrés Fernández; Oier Sanjurjo, Arribas, Loties, Damiá; Silva, Lolo; Cejudo, Torres, Armenteros; Oriol Riera.

Notting Hill Carnival history and actual

 
Notting Hill Carnival is a fantastic and fun way for the entire family to spend the August Bank Holiday weekend but understanding Notting Hill Carnival history makes the event even more important.

 Notting Hill Carnival history states that the Carnival dates back to the Abolition of Slavery Act in 1833 and the first Caribbean carnival which was held in Trinidad. The carnival was a celebration of freedom which was expressed through song, dance and flamboyant costumes. This tradition continued as each year people took to the streets and as large numbers of West Indian immigrants travelled to the UK in the 1950s, this spectacular event established itself in London. The first carnival in London took place in 1959 and was held in a town hall in St. Pancras and the tradition of staging the carnival in town halls continued until it moved to Notting Hill in 1964. The event generally grew in stature as word about the Notting Hill Carnival spread and more London residents of all cultural backgrounds joined the celebrations. The Notting Hill Carnival retains its Caribbean influences which are evident in the flamboyant and colourful costumes and the melodic calypso and soca music playing throughout the weekend. However, historically the Notting Hill Carnival has always highlighted the fact that the event is best loved for promoting tolerance amongst communities and this year the Notting Hill Carnival is embracing the message of Aspiring and Achieving In Unity. In keeping with Notting Hill Carnival history, this year the event promises to repeat its own unique blend of music from West African drumming and steel bands to hip hop, salsa and house music, pageantry including costumed masquerade bands and floats, not forgetting live music stages and numerous sound systems guaranteeing the party atmosphere of the Notting Hill Carnival is alive and well throughout the streets of Notting Hill. ( still known in Spain for the Julia Robert and Hugh Grant's film )

Mallorca - Osasuna: the D day for our team

Good morning, dear Osasunists! Carnivals are here and people usually dress up and go to fancy dress parties in Navarra, and everywhere. This afternoon Osasuna plays against Real Mallorca and due to their similar outfit in red, they must dress up in grey, but I hope they will dress up as a fanstastic team that plays a good football in the pitch. Osasuna and Mallorca got a draw in the first round at El Sadar and we keep on saying that the goalaverage with relegation teams will be important at the end of the season. For the time being, Osasuna has a disadvantage with Depor and Celta as they won their home games, but Osasuna lost their average in goals.