Sleepovers and Crazy Costumes in Oviedo!

So this last weekend, a few girls and I indulged in the wonderful American tradition of the slumber party. My friend Ashley’s host madre was out of town this weekend and she said she could have some friends over. So we brought our cookies, chips, peanuts, Happy Hippos (my new favorite candy ever!!), 70 euro cent wine and sangria and had a good time watching random music videos, talking, and eating. It was so nice just getting to hang out in a house with friends! That’s something we all miss a lot about being in the States. We slept in until about 12:30 and then got up to make tortilla Española. So delicious!!! It’s basically a potato and onion omelet, but it is one of the tastiest Spanish foods! We set up the table with a tablecloth, napkins, glasses, and of course a hunk of bread. Living the Spanish lifestyle the best we can!

Then we went home to get ready for the parade of costumes for Carnaval. Luckily it was a beautiful, sunny day so there were tons of people out for the parade! Some people got super into it and made some really detailed costumes. It was also fun to hear the music. There is a large Celtic influence in Asturias so there were a lot of bagpipers and drummers. And many of the costumes reflected the culture as we saw “fabada” (people dressed up as beans, pork, and kids as little chorizos), Sidra bottles, bagpipes, and random Spanish food products. There were entire outfits out of balloons, crazy dresses made out of plastic bags, a giant Trojan horse and gladiators, a long road, and flamenco dancers. There was also a group that was dressed up like runners from Pamplona with a couple bulls! Josiah and I would have fit right in!

Saturday night there were so many people in Oviedo and of course everyone was in costume! It was fun to see, but it kind of lacks the excitement of Halloween because there’s no begging for candy involved. Well, on Friday night, I went to a kids’ Carnaval party that the host madre of my friend hosted. She had the kids line up in their costumes for a little parade and then gave them each a bag of candy and a present. They were given some nice presents too! Skate boards, dolls, Barbie’s with dresses, and other toys. Then they had churros con chocolate for everyone. So good!
All in all, I can’t complain about getting to dress up and celebrate “Halloween” twice in one year. Now I have some pretty good ideas for October….

This coming weekend Josiah and I are off to explore Madrid and maybe Segovia or Toledo! Trying to cover as much of Spain as we can! I’ll keep you posted.
Paz afuera! Besos!