Where's Waldo?

Try and mix a Mardi Gras style street party (no boobs) with Halloween, in Cadiz, Spain. Let me proudly introduce you to the third largest fiesta in the world, CARNAVAL! People come from all over the world and convene in Cadiz for this week long celebration. Music, floats, large stages, food, and costumed people flood the streets all in great spirits. Lindsey and I were excited to see what the whole hoop-la over Carnaval was all about and decided to make the trek from Jaen to Jerez de la Frontera for the weekend.

Saturday night was upon us and decked out in costumes, we headed for the train station in Jerez. Let the madness begin… As we approached the station, smiles laid on our faces because the costumes that everyone was wearing were so creatively, thought out, and put together. It was 9:34pm, our train entered the station, Cadiz…uh yes please! Lindsey and I took the last two, available seats and who are we sitting across from? Oh they just happen to be two other auxillares from Orange County, California. I swear, this world only gets smaller! We leave the station and the train becomes party central. Cows, pirates, ‘Where’s Waldos’ and birds filled our car and flamenco music was sung loud and proud. After a 50 minute train ride, we arrived in Cadiz! We quickly took the streets and joined the masses of people all having the time of their lives. We cruised the historic streets of Cadiz, hung out near the cathedral and stood in famous plazas. I was at Carnaval!

As the night progressed, our group of about 10 all became separated and the best line of the weekend comes from my Benjamin, (Miss Lindsey Ashjian). ‘Never did I imagine playing a live version as I searched a massive crowd of 100,000+ and asked myself, "Where's Waldo?!"’ hahaha! Just imagine standing at the front of a huge plaza, smothered with costumed folk, looking for someone who happens to be dressed as Waldo! While laughing to herself and thinking back to her childhood days, it sounded impossible but needless to say she found her Waldo. By 4:00am we all reconvened, and took the train back to Jerez.

Carnaval lived up to its standards and exceeded expectations. I was thoroughly impressed with the Spaniards' costumes and devotion to their festival. It proved to be a massive party filled with energetic people and a damn good time!

Train ride to Cadiz!

Retired Fort Lauderdale Grannys

Crowds of People

The Girls

Where's Lindsey?

Crazyness!

I found WALDO!

At a Loss for Words

A poor, yet prideful country sits on the other side of the Mediterranean Sea from Spain and recently became my next subject to explore. I have never been one to do a ton of research before hitting the road, but was aware the Spaniards all have mixed emotions about Morocco. ‘Be careful, have fun, make sure to take a boy with you,’ were shared words of concern I received, upon leaving for the weekend from friends and co-workers. I however, was going to take this country like any other, with an open mind.

For once in my life I was speechless. Me, at a loss for words…never. But as I walked through the medina in Fes, I found myself silent. I was aware. I was suspicious. I had my game face on. New thoughts filled my head. New emotions engulfed my body. I placed myself in situations for the first time and thought things I never imagined thinking. I held onto my purse a little tighter and became suspicious of everyone. Can I trust this person? Are they genuinely being nice to me or are they being nice because they want my money? I stood strong, held my ground, walked and talked confidently. And after four hours inside the 9000+, maze-like streets of the medina, I left without having bought a thing and mentally exhausted.

It’s been hard to put this experience into words. But reflecting back, I am thankful for my time in Morocco because I was tested in more ways than one. Two differing cultures met and I walked away with a new appreciation of their culture and way of life. I was welcomed into their country and saw an in-depth, close-up depiction of their daily life.

Morocco caught me speechless…and I still am.

Differing cultures

The Tanneries

'THE' carpet/rug presentation

3 Americans and the Brit in front of the Royal Palace

Life

Inside the market in the Medina