The all-nighter: Cádiz and back in 12 hours

Never in my life had I pulled an all-nighter before two weekends ago. Of course I had stayed up until the wee hours of the morning at some sleepovers, but always in the comfort of PJs and a sleeping bag. So I was unprepared for the adventure my group went on two Saturdays ago: an 8-hour promenade through the streets of Cádiz at its famous Carnaval, which takes place over the course of eleven days every February. Regarded as one of the best Carnavals in the world, this fiesta was a must-see for our adventurous group. We were excited to witness and participate in the tradition of showing off creative disfraces (costumes). We were also eager to watch the legendary chirigotas--large singing groups that write and perform satirical music commenting on politics and current events.

So on a cold (at least, by Andalusian standards) Saturday night we donned our regrettably store-bought costumes and took a train to Cádiz. We noticed some great costumes on the train: my favorite group comprised five girls wearing big sunny-side up eggs made of foam and traditional Flamenco accessories--a Spanish omelette!

When we arrived in Cádiz, we were greeted by an ever-growing mob of people in crazy outfits. We passed a large plaza packed with food vendors and made our way into a knot of narrow and winding streets, where most of the celebration was taking place. As difficult as navigation was (walking through Cádiz was reminiscent of the first days I spent in Sevilla, confused, with my nose in a map) we managed to find our way to another large plaza housing a stage. There we watched a chirigota perform and talked--or rather, shouted over the crowd and the amplified voices of the witty Spanish singers--with some Andalusian natives.

I was impressed by how warm and welcoming the people we met at Carnaval were. The only comparable event I have ever attended in Boston is the 4th of July fireworks spectacle, where people were definitely not as friendly!

After leaving the chirigota concert, we wandered around the city, in and out of cafés, taking in some much-needed caffeine. At 5 in the morning--8 hours after arriving in Cádiz--we boarded our train back to Sevilla. As much fun as I had in Cádiz, it felt good to go back to the city that now feels like home.