The pre-Lenten Carnaval of Caribbean-coastal Barranquilla is second in the world only to Rio de Janeiro’s in terms of size and extravagance (more than a half mllion participants), and though it brings in huge economic benefits to this city is still less glitzy, commercialized, and closer to its 19th-century folk roots, mixing European, African, and pre-Hispanic cultures (and for that reason has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage treasure). Read more about it and Barranquilla in my blog post here.

(Michelle Mariani)