My first blog post of 2018 will be about my trip to Cádiz. This city is on a peninsula located southwest of Spain. People from around the world arrive for this festival, as it occurs only in February every year. (Photos taken by me on 2/09/18).
Once I’d arrived at the Plaza de San Juan de Dios, many people were here selling costumes, e.g. hats, masquerades, wigs. I’d just come from the bus parking lot, about a 4 minute walk away.
As you can see, a lady was standing next to her merchandise; she’d offered me some accessories, but I already was partly-dressed. I then ambled over to view a street performer dressed as the Predator.
Even the Ayuntamiento de Cádiz was decorated, i.e. the Town Hall of Cádiz.
It was about that time to vacate the Plaza de San Juan de Dios, and my friends and I followed the horde of people into Calle Pelota. We were excited for this Cádiz de Carnaval 2018 since all of us traveled from Madrid, Spain.
The Plaza de la Catedral was the next stop. More people were dressed here talking within their posse. Some disguised as Jesters and Pirates here, but we’ll witness more costumes as we venture throughout the Carnival.
A quick selfie picture with my friends, couple of guys from Peru, girls in the middle from Italy, other girls from South Korea and me, standing in the back.
Afterwards we wandered over to the Mercado Central and I was able to capture an image of a seafood salesmen. He was selling Erizos de mar, sea urchin seafood. The street we were on was called Calle Libertad and even FBI agents were here, but there was some loud noise down the road…
Anda! A chirigota del Carnaval de Cádiz, a group of friends in a chorus, and dressed as miners. They sang about issues in the workplace as we watched and enjoyed our drinks.
The streets in the carnival were getting a bit too crowded and we decided it was time for a break. The Atlantic ocean was the place to be, it was a beautiful view and a great moment for ocean gazing.
We eventually found a cowboy pig! I believe this boy should win best costume for the 2018 carnival, lol.
We decided to saunter throughout the peninsula of Cádiz and sight-see different parts of the city. At last we reached the Plaza de San Antonio, as an event was getting prepared. The show was scheduled to happen, and we assumed it’d start after dusk. This gave us time to head to the store to get snacks and drinks, and hang out.
The show was scheduled to begin in about twenty minutes, but a couple of guys and I decided to go for a trek to the Mercado Central for seafood real quickly.
The Bar Merodio was the location we’d chosen and between the three of us we decided on the ½ ration of each Cazón en adobo and Puntillitas. It’s marinated dogfish and small portion of fried squid, as we waited for our delicious food, more chirigotas were nearby and people dressed up walking by.
Furthermore, we showed up fashionability late to Plaza de San Antonio. The show lasted about two hours or so and the people around were enjoying the entertainment. There was a handful of acts and one large chirigota on stage with most of them using guitars or brass instruments. Carnaval de Cádiz for my friends and I was to conclude as our bus was scheduled to leave at midnight.
Thank you for reading, I hope to return to Cádiz again, dress up with silly costumes with friends, and most importantly get some seafood.
-Luis F. Palafox
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Biomedical Engineering major Luis Palafox is spending the 2017-2018 academic year in Spain with our U of A Exchange Program at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid with the help of the Gilman Scholarship and our Office of Study Abroad Scholarship.
Don't miss your opportunity to study or intern abroad! Start your search at http://studyabroad.uark.edu/search/
Biomedical Engineering major Luis Palafox is spending the 2017-2018 academic year in Spain with our U of A Exchange Program at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid with the help of the Gilman Scholarship and our Office of Study Abroad Scholarship.
Don't miss your opportunity to study or intern abroad! Start your search at http://studyabroad.uark.edu/search/
