One day you’re the big fish and a few hours later you’re a pile of ashes on the beach, so ended the Arona Carnaval 2014. Bursting with tradition and colour the theme of Africa was more in the drum rhythms than the costumes but as always the commitment to the cause was admirable, it takes a lot of stamina, or dancing juice, to keep the party spirit bubbling.

The Coso parade on Sunday afternoon was spectacular, the make up and fancy dress were as creative as the parking all the way up the hill, the gruas were juggling motors all weekend. It doesn’t seem to matter what the weather is like in the build up, the Coso is always baking hot, the wind subsided and the feathers and finery didn’t need too much holding in place.

The route from Paloma beach to the Los Cristianos cultural centre was packed, many had taken chairs and picnics with them for an early start, others bagged prime positions on bar forecourts, but most stood along the roadside waiting patiently. It’s very much a family day all round, several generations could be seen in the parading groups, costume skills have been passed down the line and a few marshals kept everyone moving at a brisk but not hurried pace.

There’s always a sprinkling of famous look a likes, Michael Jackson was waving his white gloves, Captain Jack Sparrow was shivering a few timbers, and Uncle Sam was peddling around trying to show he was the real Captain America. The biggest stars are the Carnaval Queens and their dames of honour, 22 year old Lucia Cathaysa Mesa was radiant in her creation La Ultima Conquistadora. It took a good couple of hours for the procession to work its way to the showground for more music and dance.

Monday was the traditional sardine cremation with its outrageous wailing widows escorting it to the beach to be set alight amid showers of fireworks. I gave it a miss this year to scrape my round up together but I tried interviewing the sardine in the afternoon, it didn’t have a lot to say, maybe it had an inkling of what was to come. Roll on next year, take a bow Arona, it was another cracker.