Chiclete con Banana block of Trio Electrico in Teresina
The following, along with the sketch in the photo above, is from my sketchbook journal for July 11, 2004:
Forty Years! I woke to a kiss from Bob and he presented me with a beautiful carved ivory-tusk pendant from a fossilized mammoth that had been buried under the ice in Alaska for 50,000 years and, finally released by melting, was carved by an Eskimo carver. It is set in gold filigree on a short gold chain. I am absolutely enchanted by it--and the man who has been my husband for 40 years. I’ve always said I didn’t want any ivory as I didn’t want to encourage or condone anyone killing animals to get it, but since the animal had been buried for 50,000 years, I shall wear it with a clear conscience. Bob, who usually doesn’t like to keep secrets--or plan so far ahead, ordered it three months ago from one of his Science Magazines.
For Sunday lunch, NeNe fixed Picanya—a roast beef dish, rice, vegetables, wild chicken, and a barbecue-flavored pot roast. After a rest we went to Tia Maria’s house for pao do quejo (Cheese bread) and bolo do goma (tapioca cake) and coffee. Our friend Paolo from Italy once told us, “When we have a guest, we feed it.” And so it is in Brazil.
G and W had participated in Micarina the night before we arrived and wanted us to experience it also but all other nights were sold out. Tia Maria’s son called today to say that he had found eight tickets that a friend wasn’t going to use since Monday was a work day, so we were able to go and sit in a box in the two-story grandstand to watch the trio electrico.
Three huge 18-wheeler trucks, mounted with mammoth speakers made their way slowly up a three-block area and back with dance bands playing on each one. Before and after each truck were approximately 500 revelers, called a block, who bought special t-shirts that served as their ticket/ID to get behind the ropes and accompany their chosen truck. Because the trucks could take as much as five hours to complete the route, there were also 18-wheeler bathroom and refreshment trucks within each “block.”
Because we were advised not to take cameras I have only a sketch from my journal in which I tried to capture from memory this incredible scene. Imagine 10 more people performing on top of the truck and 1000 more accompanying it down the street. What energy! I’ve never experienced anything quite like it. Maybe when I was younger I could have managed five hours of truck following but for the present it was enough to be in the box with 15 people dancing and bouncing the grandstand floor to the loudest, most rhythmic music I’ve ever heard.
To watch a video of Yvete Sangolo performing in a trio electrico in Salvador Bahia, click here.
Posted by: Connie Saunders | July 26, 2004 at 04:42 PM