Last night we went to a double party ... seventh birthday for Milka's niece and fifth wedding anniversary for her cousin (the birthday girl's parents). What a night!!! The birthday party was first ... starting at 7pm.... massive decorations, about 50 kids.... and their parents ....loud music ... all the usual party food etc ... then the clowns arrived – the entertainment wasn't a sit down affair. They revved the kids up ... with much dancing and jumping around, ... accompanied by whistles, blown in time with the thumping music (every one of the kids had one), as well as rattles, balloons, glow sticks, pinata full of toys, birthday cake etc... At 9pm, when the kids left, the place was cleared ready for the adult's party. A live band arrived, ready to start playing sometime after 11pm. Groups of people arrived, food was served, and a Peruvian custom for drinks began ..... a small jug containing a mixture of wine and pisco along with a very small glass began to bee passed around. A person pours a small amount into the glass, then passes the jug on to another person – usually someone they wish to 'have cheers with'. That person holds on to the jug until the glass has been emptied and passed to them. And so it goes..... A similar process worked with a small flask of straight pisco, and a small jug of cubra libre (usually rum, coke and lime .... although I think this was just rum and lime juice).
About the same time as the band started (LOUD music.... PA system, HUGE speakers, and really LOUD Peruvian MC), a couple of plastic crates of beer (tallies) were carried in and distributed around the groups ..... one bottle and one glass per group. Same process worked for the beer too .... and interestingly, the person holding the bottle .... waiting for the glass, waited patiently, never drinking from the bottle.
Once the band stared, and music began thumping out ... dancing began.... Latin American style. Boy ... these people can dance!!! The music and dancing continued until 3.30am.... the band packed up and left. At that point, the stereo started .... even LOUDER!!! Streets are narrow and neighbours are very close .... no-one would have got any sleep, but no-one complained. Definitely NOT like Australia. There was no group of males around the keg outside either!!! Everybody was dancing.... Throughout the night, as 2 crates of empties were filled, someone would take them out the door .... and reappear shortly after with 2 full crates ..... even at 5am!!!!! I asked about this sometime later ... and the beer was purchased from a local shop.... whenever needed. Some service!
We left for home around 5.30am.... the crowd had dwindled, but the music was still thumping out and people were still dancing!!!!
No wonder Milka says she doesn't want to come to Australia because we don't dance much. Maybe she is right!!!
BTW ... the family next door looks like having a party tonight. There's an arch of pink balloons around the doorway. Maybe we won't get much sleep tonight .... (we share a wall). OH... the PA system has just started .... and the thumping music ..... arreba, areba!!!!!!! )
2 comments:
And did you dance too mum?
Of course!!! Try sitting there and not dancing .... it's not possible! Besides how else would I be able to stay awake until 6am???? But I sure wish I could dance like the locals .... guys and girls!
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