Well, one might argue that its for Semana Santa. The population grows from a modest 5,000 to probably well over 50,000. And what once took about 10 minutes to drive (from on end of San Carlos to the other) now took about half and hour, if you're lucking, and in many cases, one hour. The atmosphere is that of a carnival on steroids - car on car, person on person; the main street and the beaches are absolutely packed with people.
Unfortunately, the name is about the only part of this celebration that has anything to do with Easter. I suppose it isn't a lot different in Canada and the US when it comes to Christmas (for a lot of people). Here in San Carlos, its an excuse to get out, meet new people, an unfortunately, let the cerveza flow freely. I spent part of Friday night, walking down the street, snapping some pictures. There aren't many situations where I'm not comfortable but walking down that street, in the midst of the drunkenness, being just about the only gringo out there, I didn't feel very safe.
It's quite the contrast from this morning's 6:00am sunrise service that the English church had this morning, beneath the cross on the hill, just behind the mission center. From the apparent "happiness" and hopelessness in the streets this weekend to the incredible joy of knowing that the cross and the grave are both empty.
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| Friday night on main street, San Carlos. |
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| A sea of people - main street, San Carlos. |
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| Saturday afternoon on the beach. |
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