Having the opportunity to experience and participate in Barcelona’s Carnival was a huge privilege as part of my study abroad experience. Before departing on the bus to Sitges, I had minimal expectations about what I was about to encounter. I was aware from both peers and teachers that the beautiful beach town of Sitges gets filled with people parading in costumes and the streets are overwhelmed with floats and people, yet I was unaware of how many people become involved in this parade.
My friends and me were skeptical about what to wear to Carnival. We knew that people wore costumes, however, I was unsure if people dressed similarly to the way we did for Halloween in the United States. Rather than dressing up in an extravagant costume from the Party store located on Las Ramblas, we decided to play it safe, dressing in bright colors with decorative makeup and hair pieces. The getting ready process is always fun and exciting, but the best was yet to come. 9pm rolled around and it was time for the buses to depart from Plaza Espana. Students dressed in costumes ranging from devils to cowboys to others trying to be Michael Jackson were off to the small town of Sitges located 30 minutes outside the city.
My favorite part of the night was the rush down to the parade from the location where the buses dropped us off. I was amazed to see the number of people filling the streets and the happiness and excitement that filled each persons face. The music was playing, the churro stands were packed and it was almost time for the parade to start. Luckily, my parents were in town visiting for Carnival and they also had the opportunity to experience this tradition as well. I was intrigued by the hard work that was put into making each float, and the costumes that accompanied the floats as well. I had no idea that this many people participated in the parade. Each time a float passed; there was at least 10 or 15 more trailing behind them. It was never ending and I loved every minute of it. The float that attracted my attention the most was a skit of a wedding and there was a bride and groom that were station on the front of the float. This float was decorated with extreme detail, but I loved the flowers the people at the bottom of the float were handing out. This float was not only one that caught my attention by its visual appearance, yet it was playing music that I enjoy to listen. When this float passes, the people in the streets went wild, singing and dancing until the float was completely out of sight.
This Carnival experience was one of amazement to me and I would recommend any student who studied in Barcelona to make their way to Sitges in following years. It isn’t everyday that you get to listen to music and hang out on the beach in costume while floats and people parade in the streets. I am so happy that my parents were here to see this unbelievable tradition that goes on in Barcelona and other cities in Europe as well.
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