Sitges Carnival

On Tuesday February 12th, 2013 I was able to experience Carnaval in Sitges, Spain, 35 kilometeres, a 45 minute bus ride out side of Barcelona.  From February 6th to the 13th, this small neighborhood comes alive with a series of events that attract 300,000 people.  This is a festive season which occurs immediately before Lent, taking place in the six weeks before Easter. Sitges is now known to be the Mecca of the gay community. Carnival has become a highpoint on the international gay calendar that helps add a unique flavor to the exquisit festivities.  This Carnival is known to be one of the most famous Carnivals in Catalonia.  Tuesday night is known to be the Rua de l'Extermini where around 40 floats with more than 2,500 participants parade in Sitges.  Each person is dressed in colorful, wild, and fun costumes combining some elements of circus, masks, and public street party.  Many coming and dressing up in masquerade, which marks an overturning of daily life.  Costumes also ranged from devils to even cowboys and indians. Each float had a different theme with elaborate costumes, blasting music, and it's own choreographed dance.
This was a very interesting experience for all of us.  It was crazy to see the amount of people that continued to fill the streets as the night progressed. It was nothing like what we imagined it to be. I had minimal expectations about what I was about to encounter.  At times it felt incredibly dangerous, from the amount of people walking through the streets drunk, to the amount of people that got pickpocketed that night.  In the end, we had the best time with all of the friends that we have made here in Barcelona, and will definitely be an experience that I will never forget.  This Carnival experience was one of amazement to me, and I would recommend any student who studies in Barcelona in the following years to attend this spectacular event.  It isn't everyday that you get to listen to music, hang out on the beach, dress up in crazy elaborate costumes and parade in the streets with your friends.