I am conscious that this period is a period of Lent, which is significant for Catholic and it is a time of reflection and prayer. Nevertheless, I am going to write some lines about Carnival of Cádiz. It doesn't mean that I don´t respect holy time, it is just because I am behindhand with my posts :).

I went to Cádiz at my first weekend of my Erasmus+ period, that is at 14th of February.

We were quite large group, as there were twelve buses!! Some of us were in disguise: they disguised themselves as policeman, as nursery, as hippie, as child in nappy, as Superman, as Aladdin...We could admire vivid imagination of our group and not only. Both the natives and foreigners participate in this event. Although, carnival take place in many Spanish cities and villages, normally it is said that Carnival of Cádiz is the most celebrated. In what does it consist?

People disguise themselves, participate in parade on the street, which goes through the city. There are concerts at some squares so the participants dance.

During that night I could saw both adolescents, adults, children and elders, therefore, I've come to the conclusion that people celebrate carnival worldwide so as to amuse and spend time together. The only possible and real inconvenience is visible the next day. Out group left at 5 a.m on Sunday, so we could not see it, but I am sure that the streets were dirty, full of rubbish and bottles of vine or other alcoholic drinks on February's Sunday.

I was wondering if it could be possible to introduce the custom of carnival in Poland, but I realised in Poland people celebrate it, but in different ways. People go to the club or to the barn dance. Thus, I can write that each nation has conformed its customs with the conditions which around it, like climate :). [Although, in this year the winter in Poland was not harsh ;)].

If you will opportunity to go to Cádiz someday, do not miss go on the beach! Uunfortunately, I missed it!

If you want read more about Carnival in Cádiz, click on this link: http://www.andalucia.org/es/carnaval-de-cadiz/

       Last weekend I went to Lisbon! :) Will somebody ask me it's worth it? I will response, honestly, yes! It's well worth a visit! Lisbon, as everybody knows, is capital of Portugal, nevertheless, it isn't overwhelming. By my observation, the development is low, and maybe it's the reason that you don't feel there like in a capital. The most surprising is that if you go there, you can also see another celebrated worldwide monuments. How is it possible? The answer is plain, you can contemplate there:

• monument The Christ the King (Cristo Rei), which is inspired by the famous statue in Rio de Janeiro (to bring to mind, the higher statue of Christ is located in Swiebodzin, Poland)
• 25 de Abril Bridge (Ponte 25 de Abril), which recalls the Golden Bridge in San Francisco. The date commemorate the Carnations Revolution.

Nevertheless, Portugal has own also breathtaking views and monuments. I'm going to describe briefly some of them. We visited Castle of São Jorge (Castelo de São Jorge) which is located on the hill, so at sunset, a view over city, the statue and the bridge streches from it. The castle reflects Christian and Arab rules in Portugal. The Pena National Palace in Sintra (Pálacio Nacional de Pena) is further must-see in Portugal. It's also located on the hill, but when you're climbing you can admire the botanical species which is the reason why the Palace is UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Palace if full of little towers and colourful walls. We saw it during foggy day, which gave secreter views. Quinta de Regaleira is part of Sintra as well. The vegetation and caves is what makes this place unusual.

Casa de Alentejo is the aforetime home entertainment and depicts Arab architecture, in particular, the arches and the mosaic on the walls.

Is well-known that Portugal had a royal fleet and travelled all the world to find new earth. Therefore, we can visit Bairro de Belém with Belém Tower (Torre de Belém) and Monumento aos Descobrimentos, which represents the most relevant personalities connected with the discovery of the New World, like yachtsmen, scientists and missionaries, for example, Vasco da Gama or Bartolomeu Dias.

I'm not going to describe Cape Roca (Cape Roca) or Jerónimos Monastery (Monasteiro de Jerónimos), but I really want to mention one more attraction in Lisbon, don't miss it: Bairro Alto which forms the entertainment centre in the night. I knew it for first time. During the night, the allies is filling and people just drink spirits before they have a good time. On Sunday, there were so many people that it was almost impossible to pass through the street, it seemed like all the world had to be in the same place at the same moment.

I spent there three days, but one day I wish to come back there. Don't forgive the useful word Abrigado/Abrigada. Abrigada, for having an opportunity to visit Lisbon!!!

PLEASE, DON'T COPY AND EDIT THESE PHOTOS. THEY ARE MY PROPERTY. THANK YOU :)