I never had a good time since June of this year when I was introduced by a friend to the beautiful city of Cadiz in Andalusia, Spain. She told me that in Cadiz rebels are welcome to parade themselves in the main thoroughfares. I was kind of shock and I told myself, really? Wow it must have been an interesting place to see. I could already imagine how rebels holding their guns pass by policemen and greets them “hello friend, It’s peacetime”. Huh, kind of unique place.

So, the following morning I packed my bags and proceeded to Spain to take a look at how Cadiz City looks - with the rebels roaming around the downtown. While on the plane, a new friend told me that the rebels I was told was actually about the Cadiz Carnival, where people joining the merriment have to forget the coming fasting days in Lent and instead enjoy the good food, entertainment and lots of fun. The party joiners are actually called the ‘rebels’ who went against the rules of fasting on Holy Week, especially Holy Thursday and Holy Friday. The activity is done on Shrove Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. This new friend narrated me the Carnival story in Cadiz.

Actual witnessing of the Cadiz Carnival
Other people called the Cadiz Carnival a pre-Lent fiesta. It is also a form of excuse for a grand party before the 40-day fasting. This is the third largest carnival next to Rio de Janeiro and Trinidad. People from all walks of life are welcome to join the revelry and merriment such as dances, satirical plays made by groups of people, search for the carnival queen, musical concerts and a lot more.

There is also the famous satirical group Chiriquitos, composed of 7 to 12 people that perform mockery plays on politicians, government and other prominent people in Spain. During the Lenten season people are prohibited from eating meat and attend to merriment. But with this Carnival the people are staging their protest and instead enjoy the luxury of lavish meat preparations and parties. There will be parade around the downtown buy all the participants dressed in costumes, and massive display of firecrackers.

Other places of interest in Cadiz
I enjoyed the merriment and become a rebel myself, a rebel, who go against the traditional fasting during lent. But the following days, I ventured myself in other places of interest the city has to offer to visitors.

I have enjoyed my visits to the old museums, magnificent cathedrals, ancient monuments, and all other architectural sites to behold in Cadiz. I also went to the beautiful beaches to complete my weekend escapade. The beaches in Cadiz are so cool creates an aura of welcoming you and alluring you to go back again in the future. I also enjoyed the best Tapas in fine restaurants, and other typical Andalusian cuisine.

There is the best seafood preparation that enticed me to love Cadiz even more. My cravings for the savory tasting of lobsters, squids, clams, shrimps, sea-snails, prawns had really fascinated me to taste for more in my return to this beautiful Cadiz experience.

Me ? I love Cadiz now. I even want to join the ‘rebels’ in Cadiz.