CARNAVAL!

My first festival in Spain! So Carnaval here is basically Spain's version of Mardi Gras at home, only multiply Mardi Gras by 500 and you have Carnaval! Everyone of all ages dresses up in a costume, similar to Halloween, and the festival lasts for an entire week. The main parades happen on Friday and Saturday night through our main street, "La Rambla." I have a little sister, Lydia, in my host family who is 8 years old, and a cousin Alberto who is 5 years old. We took them first to the children's parade in the street which started at 10 pm. She was a fairy and Alberto was a monkey.

My baby cousin, Alberto

Mi hermana (my sister) Lydia




After the kids parade, the real fun started! My family let me have some of our group over to get ready for Carnaval and have some drinks and tapas (appetizers). They love us Americans! We all went all out on costumes and took our party to the street to watch a concert that started at 1am and then the party in the street lasts until about 7am and after everyone goes out to breakfast dressed in their outfits. The streets were INSANE! All of the bars move outside and people gradually move the party from the streets to "La Explanada" which is the palm tree walkway near our beach and pier of the Mediterranean. When I finally got home, around the same time as my parents (about 8am) we all slept until about 5pm the next day and just relaxed and watched "fútbol." I think I can get used to the Spanish lifestyle of sleep schedule, its about that of the average college student ;)

My friend Kailey and I and our two new Spanish friends!

My friends Charles (the clown), Duncan (Superhero), George (Giant chicken) and Michael (Mickey Mouse)

Friends from all over the world! Mizzou, Poland, France, and Germany!