Los Carnavales de Cádiz are on of Spain's most popular carnival celebrations and as we only live 4 and a half hours a way it seemed like a good excuse to go. It's funny how my perception of distance has changed since living in Spain, I used to think my 3 hour journey from home to Canterbury was horrendous.
There were posters all over the city (and facebook) offering trips to Cádiz so we found the one for us and paid the 17euros. I love the Erasmus trips because they generally work out so cheap. If we had gone to Cádiz on our own and not on an organised trip the bus would have cost us 64euros alone.
We arrived in Cádiz about 3pm on Saturday and made our way into the centre of it all. It wasn't long until we found ourselves squashed in small streets absolutely filled with people watching the chirigotas. They are groups of people, generally men, dressed up funny and singing songs. I think the songs generally take the piss out of the government and are very political but in a jokey way, however I couldn't really understand a word. They are men who sing loud, deep and have a thick Cádiz accent which is near impossible to follow at times. That said, they were really entertaining and provided an amazing atmosphere. They were all about the city but there appeared to be a main plaza where perhaps the more better/more popular ones were. The ones in the plaza were on a sort of trailer of a tractor. They sounded amazing and everyone was loving it. The only downside was just the amount of people, it was really hard to move through all the people, particularly as Spanish people will not go out of their way to help you get past a little easier. After wondering around and enjoying that ,we went to the beach. It was such a beautiful, warm and sunny day. We sat down and had a drink and did the typical English thing and started playing cards, only to then be told off by some bitchy woman working in the bar. Apparently it's ilelgal to play cards on a terrace in Cádiz and that the police would arrest us. Not too sure whether to believe that one, I'll be asking my flatmate who is from there to see if it's true. Sounds a bit fishy to me.
We stayed on the beach sat on a boat and had some drinks whilst watching the sun set which was beautiful. Then we got kicked off the boat...we weren't having much luck! After refuelling with some food we headed to the main plaza where there was a big stage and music. It was really fun until I got lost.
I somehow manage to lose everyone and found myself alone in Cádiz with a phone that didn't work. A few tears were shed. I asked some people if I could use their phone to go on facebook to message my friends but then they had to leave. Luckily I then heard someone speak English and in a situation like this it was a godsend. They were really helpful and let me use their phone so I could ring my friends who were taxi-ing around the city looking for me. They even nearly reported me missing to the police. Moral of the story is...have a phone that works.
Our bus left at about 4:30-5:30AM. Exhausted, I slept the whole journey back and got back to Granada about 9 or 10 I think. .
It was a really cool trip and I'm glad we went. Now it's time to crack on with the pile of work I have due for tomorrow. I have to summarise the discoveries of Portugal (or maybe even Brazil...I should probably find out) and also write an essay on my personal opinion and perception of franquismo (the dictatorship of Franco in Spain). Happy days.
The following week we've also paid to go on a trip to see Las Fallas in Valencia. Yet another famous fiesta of Spain. Again, a mere 25euros for a round trip (6 hours each way) and a free bocadillo. Winner! I have to miss a full day of uni and we leave 6am Wednesday and come home Thursday 10am. It'll be another tiring one but you can't go wrong for that price and let's be honest...I hardly need convincing to skip a day of uni and I've got the travel bug. I love how much of Spain I am getting to see this year and I just can't get enough. I'm reminded every day what an amazing and diverse country it is. I'm gonna be so gutted when I have to leave.
Here's a few snaps from the trip:
P.S. I dressed up as Medusa if you couldn't already tell
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