I have never been at the carnival in Rio de Janeiro. I have dreamt of visiting Venice or Corfu and mingling with the crowd, diving in the street parades on the French Cote d\'Azur, of being engulfed in the party-coloured joy of the festivals in Goa (I have passed under the gates of happiness in Southern India but this happened later). We often visualize our dreams too distant, almost impossible, but after all they turn out to be so close that we risk not noticing them.

My dream of experiencing a carnival came true for the first time in a quite Bulgarian way. I had heard a lot about the pesyaks of Shiroka Laka and the mummers\' festival in Pernik but I had never seen them… Until last year. The surprise was overwhelming, the pleasure surpassed my dreams.