Weekend in Lisbon, Flamenco in Sevilla & My First Cádiz Carnival

My past few weeks in Sevilla have been packed full of adventure, classes/exams, and fun new experiences. Let’s recap!

Lisbon, Portugal

Last weekend, I took a trip to Lisbon, Portugal, which was absolutely amazing, but the journey there? Not so much. The seven-hour bus ride felt like it was never-ending, and I got motion sick almost immediately. I made the mistake of not paying extra to pick my seats and ended up all the way in the back. Thankfully, by the time we made it, I could actually enjoy being in a new country, with new food, and new sights to explore. Lisbon was everything I hoped it would be and more. With amazing colorful streets (though very steep), delicious pastéis de nata (custard tarts), and incredible views from their lookout points. This was also my first time staying in a hostel, which I was very skeptical and apprehensive about at first. But it turned out to be way better than I expected, the place we got was super clean, and comfy, and the best part was being able to meet new people from all over the world. It made the trip even more fun since I was with friends but also got to swap travel stories with other travelers. For the bus ride back, I came prepared, I sat in the front, popped some motion sickness medicine, and slept the whole ride back!

Cádiz Carnival: Spain’s Halloween Party

Next stop Cádiz Carnival, the most chaotic, colorful, and eventful night I’ve had in Spain so far. For those who don’t know, Cádiz Carnival is one of Spain’s biggest and wildest street parties, kind of like a mix between Halloween and Mardi Gras. The whole city turns into a massive festival, with costumes, music, and groups performances. Though with this comes thousands of people crowned in every nook of the alleys. 

Naturally, we dressed up for this, our group had everything from movie characters to completely random outfits. The entire night, we were surrounded by people in the craziest costumes, dancing in the streets, laughing, and joining in on the celebrations. It was like Halloween but with a Spanish twist, no candy though unfortunately, but plenty of great food, music and good vibes.

Tips for a Safe & Fun Cádiz Carnival Trip

If you ever get the chance to experience Cádiz Carnival, here’s what I learned:

1. Wear a costume. Everyone does it, and you’ll feel left out if you don’t. The crazier, the better. Nothing is too much! Truly 

2. Plan your ride home. The last trains and buses fill up fast, so book round-trip tickets in advance and DO NOT miss your bus back! Also, Ubers do not work so be prepared to do a lot of walking. 

3. Stick with your friends. It’s super crowded, and cell service can be bad, so have a meeting point just in case.

4. Bring cash. Some places don’t take cards, and ATM lines are insane.

5. Embrace the chaos. Don’t try to have a strict plan, just go with the flow, dance, enjoy the experience, and have fun!

First Flamenco Class with ICS

Back in Seville, I decided to jump into local culture and signed up for my first flamenco class through ICS (our study abroad program). The only catch though was that I don’t speak or understand any Spanish. So when the instructor started calling out steps, I just had to copy her moves and hope for the best. Surprisingly, I kept up! Maybe because I took a few salsa classes before, so I at least had some rhythm, but thankfully I survived my first flamenco experience and was able to have fun!

Between Lisbon, flamenco, and Cádiz Carnival, Spain has been an incredible experience so far and I’m looking forward to many more!

View of Lisbon from Castelo de Sao Jorge