La Vida Fantástica: Rota CARNIVAL!!!

It's Carnival time in Rota again! A time for song, dance, costumes and drinking in the streets! (Think really fun adult halloween party that lasts for almost 2 weeks!) Surprisingly enough, I neglected to share the pictures with you that I took from LAST year's carnival, so I'll start with a few of those! The first picture is a shot of Rocio and pregnant me (oh how different this year was), waiting in the street for her boyfriend Javi's Chirigota to perform. :)

Chirigotas (accd'ing to Wikipedia) are well-known witty and satiric groups that train for the whole year to sing about politics, topics in the news, and everyday circumstances, while all of the members wear identical costumes. Each chirigota – whether a professional group or one made up of family members, friends or colleagues – has a wide repertoire of songs. They sing in the streets and squares, at improvised venues like outdoor staircases or portals, and in established open-air tablaos (tableaux) organized by the carnival clubs.

Here is a shot and video of Javier's chirigota performing last year as "geeks." So funny!

Another chirigota performing.

And another. Seriously, the costumes are SO elaborate and funny!

Fast forward one year, and you are now looking at Carnival 2012! While spending time at Rocio's home, her mom pulled out her VERY FIRST carnival costume. Of course, we had to put Finlay in the adorable clown suit! I cannot believe this costume is over 20 years old!!! So cute!

Yesterday afternoon, Matt and Fin and I headed into Rota to enjoy some of the costumes, songs and other Carnival sights. We found Javier's group performing on the street. This year they were dressed as "Kebab vendors" hehe. The Spanish aren't afraid to be a little politically incorrect. So funny! Check out the video.

We opted to dress Fin as BATMAN! (Na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na batman!) Matt pointed out another couple with the same idea, and I couldn't believe it. It was my friend, the spanish teacher from the DODDS school here on base. Small town. :) Of course, we had to take a picture. What a cute family.