King and Queen of Carnival February 12, 2006 Day 1 - Cozumel Day 2 - Tulum, Coba & Playa del Carmen Day 3 - Isla Cozumel, Coconuts & San Gervasio Day 4 - San Miguel, El Mercado & presentation of                Carnival Royal Court Day 5 - Atlantis submarine dive       Wilma damage

Going straight to the main plaza, folks were already assembling for the presentation of the King and Queen of Carnival at 8 PM. There were several rows of people in folding chairs in front of the stage, and after deciding there was no one to ask for permission, I pulled a chair out of the pile and pulled up on the end of the front row of the audience.

Right in front of the speakers! It didn't take me long to fashion makeshift earplugs. But I could still feel the beat of the recorded music. There was about an hour wait, so I just enjoyed the Latin music and people watched. I seemed to be the only Anglo in the crowd.

After about an hour's wait the Host of the program came out in his bright yellow outfit and the crowd pushed in from the sides. It was a constant struggle trying to keep a clear sight line for photographing activity on the stage.

But this preview of Cozumel's Carnival was my biggest unplanned treat during the trip. I had so much fun that in 2007 I returned for the actual Carnival.

The program was entirely in Spanish, so I don't really know what was going on. Several men and women were introduced with their own troupes of costumed dancers. It sounded like each one was King or Queen, so I know I got that wrong. They had all competed and two of them won, but I have no idea which ones.