CARNAVALES

AHHHHHHHH.


Where do I even begin? How can I find the words to describe what was the first night of these wonderful festivities?

My evening started at 6:45 pm, when Jose Antonio (Mila´s nephew) called me to tell me that we were going to leave in an hour. I had just woken up from a nice nap and was on my way out the door to find a costume. I had a mini-panic attack because I didn´t really understand what Jose Antonio had told me and there wasn´t enough time to purchase a costume. I quickly ran down-stairs to the Hiper Euro, a Chinese "dollar-store" type place, to see if there was anything I could wear. I had originally wanted to go as a cow, but couldn´t find any cow costume that I liked and was now thinking to go as a pregnant princess. I found a 12€ princess dress but I just couldn´t bring myself to buy it. I ended up running around the large expanse of the tiny apartment, finding an old, silly hat, a tie, and some fake mustashes.

The Spanish don´t enjoy being on time, so at 8:30, Jose Antonio, Maria (his girlfriend), and his brother, Joaquin roll up and we are on our way. But not really. After a three hour getting ready and dinner session at their house, we finally geot a ride in Cádiz.

When we first entered the city, there was only a few spattering of people, lugging beer bottles and wearing funny costumes. We got dropped off far away from the center of the city because it there were just too many cars and walking would be a lot faster. We got out of the car and ended up joining a large train of people all walking towards Plaza España.

Oh the costumes! A delightful array of men dressed up as women, people in chicken costumes, and a lot of pretend police men (which got confusing). Amy Winehouse made some apearences as did a few giant penises.

We made our way towards the center and met up with more cousins. I opted out of meeting up with other exchange students, I just thought it would be better if I spent the whole night speaking the Spanish tounge with the native people.

Plaza España is located at the very beginning of Old Cádiz, next to the bus station and the port, with a large statue in the middle. I have never seen so many people. Never in my whole entire life. People swinging off of the statue, hopping over fences, standing in the middle of the road, doing whatever thing that you are not allowed to do when it is not Carnival.

00:45 am

I met up with some friends of Maria. They were really nice and when they found out that I was from San Francisco, I made a lot of new best friends. Every one wanted to speak English with me but I did not mind at all. We chatted and talked about random things.

1:45 am

I had to pee. Really bad. I went around to the people who I knew to announce that I had to pee. Maria was the only one who gathered up people to go. We hopped the fence and made our way to a line of parked cars. My large mustache caused a ruckus, so I had to stop and chat to people about my facial hair. Squatting behind a car was not fun. I ended up having to pee two more times that night.

3:00 am

I went to go get water with a group of 4 people. That was insane. Walking into the city was insane. There were more than 450,000 people partying in the streets. The voice in my head was my father´s. "If you are ever in a very crowded place, stay close to the outside and look for an exit strategy. Kids like you can get easily trampled if they are not alert and aware at all times." That little talk was about two years ago, after a death at a night club. With those words in my head, I looked about the crowded streets and laughed. There was no exit strategy. It was not possible to make a quick escape.

4:00 am

We made back to where everyone else was, but not after pushing and shoving to get back. I wish I could describe the scene better but there really aren´t words. I had a lot of fun hanging with these Spaniards. They were all really impressed that I could speak Spanish with such "ease" even though I have only been here for 5 months. That, I think, was the best part of the whole night. Getting affirmation that my hard work was paying off and impressing people is an indescribable feeling.

6:00 am

People are starting to trickle out. I make a guess that I will be home in two hours. I begin to make the journey to the bus stop, which is in a different spot than normal, in New Cádiz.

6:45 am

I arrive at the bus stop, only to find the two accordion buses leaving for Chiclana.

7:05 am
After a short but cold 20 minutes until the next two buses arrive. Getting on the bus was the scariest part of the whole night. Jose Antonio had warned me that getting on the bus would be terrible. I would really have to push and shove. He was not kidding. At all. About 50 people all tried to get on the bus at the same time. I was smushed in the middle, not even on my feet, but getting pushed upwards by so many people. This was not the right way to get on the bus. I got out of the mosh pit and decided to weasle my way on. I walked around to the side of the bus, reached my hand around and grabbed onto the inside of the door. I then, don´t know how, managed to get one foot inside the bus and then, with a final shove, I was on! And I got a window seat. I wasn´t feeling too hot and I did not start to feel better when the people sitting around me began to smoke. On the bus.

8:00 am.

HOME! I drink some water and home into bed.

13:00 pm.

I awake to an empty house with an empty stomache. I spend the rest of the day sleeping and eating and watching movies in English.



An amazing night. A lot of fun! More to come later!