I've never known weather like it. Not in 59 years

By Monica Charrua

This weekend I met up with my landlady to hand over rent and have a bit of a natter. She doesn't have the largest social circle and it's great practice for my listening skills of full force Extramenian accent.

The last week has been horrible. It has rained every day (and usually very heavily) for almost two weeks now and it is set to continue into the rest of the week. For a small city with not that many activities to do, taking away going outside really has made things feel quite dull (Add in the almost British like overcast skies and it's a recipe for disaster/boredom.)

Anyway when I met my landlady she revealed that she had never known weather like this in Extramadura. There is usually a let off, some respite, some clear skies and blue above. But in the whole time she has been in Badajoz (59 years) it has never rained like it is now.

To highlight the contrast, last year Badajoz and Extramedura faced a minor drought and no rain for three months prior (or after the brief drizzel at the end of March).

Two years in a row of sharp contrasting Badajoz weather.

A history of Badajoz Carnival

I always used to think that Carnival was just a word for festival or when the circus/amusement park came to town. I guess this was compounded by my, limited, knowledge of the Notting Hill carnival in London which always happens in August.

In fact, traditionally Carnival has religious roots.

The word for meat in Spanish is Carne and comes from the Latin word Carno or Carnes in the plural form. The second part of the name has debated origins. It is either "carne levare" (to leave meat) "carne vale" to say farewell to meat or some schoolars even suspect that it is actually from an old Roman festival
carrus navalis. 

What ever the true origin of the word, Carnival marks the beginning of lent and is a time of excess before the time of moderation.

Are all Carnivals the same?

Carnivals are common in traditionally Catholic countries though there are some in traditionally Protestant countries too (such as the Notting Hill Carnival) though they usually deviate more.

Photo Credit: werner boehm * via Compfight cc

In Venice the carnival is very ornate with incredible masks and decorations.

Where as in Brazil it is much more extravagant in other ways.

Badajoz is actually recognised as having the third largest carnival in Spain and many people from around the region of Extramedura visit to see the sites.

The History of Badajoz Carnival

Considering Badajoz's size you might find it's large carnival a surprise...well it is. The story is that some 25 years ago the people in Badajoz suddenly all decided to start celebrating in the street. Everyone went outside, got dressed up and had a party. 

There may be no truth in the story but now Badajoz has a very unique Carnival. The parade is not something that happens in every Spanish City (Madrid doesn't even have one) almost everyone get's dressed up on the Saturday and Monday night, The Murgas (a singing and dancing troop) are more common in Argentina and Uruguay and I haven't found a single other place which holds the "funeral of the sardines" on Shrove Tuesday. 

If you want to see some pictures from Badajoz Carnival check out my pictures from 2013. 

Badajoz Carnival Parade 2013

Unfortunately, when you only have a camera phone it is pretty hard to get any great photos. I'll try editing some of these to improve them but I thought I'd upload these ones now anyway. 

Carnival is coming!

I'm not sure there was this much excitement about Christmas in Badajoz but the minds eye of the town is certainly on Carnival.

Badajoz actually has the third biggest Carnival in Spain (whilst being one of the smallest regional capitols, but there you go!)

I can't report exactly what happens at the Carnival but I know there will be a parade by the river on the Sunday and that people go out and enjoy a drink or five on the Friday, Saturday and Monday night (as Tuesday is a holiday here)

Before that there are various festivals and I actually bumped into one last night (27/01/2013) by El Corte ingles. A children's percussion festival.

Expect more pictures to follow.

How to get to Badajoz

Travelling from the UK to and from Badajoz can be a challenge. Badajoz isn't exactly in the easiest to get to place. Located just next to the boarder with Portugal and in the most rural and isolated part of Spain limits transport options but there are still a few you can choose from.

Travelling by Plane

Although Badajoz does have it's own airport, flights aren't frequent (one or two a day at the peak of summer) and are only from one airline (helitt) from Spanish and sometimes Portuguese airports. The flights aren't the most expensive and are on a small plane frequently full of passengers.
These flights come from:

• Barcelona, 
• Madrid,
• Melila
• Malaga
• Victoria (Portugal)  

So the only real options are to fly into Barcelona or Madrid.

Travelling by Bus

Travelling by bus opens up a couple of other options for Airports. Both Sevilla and Lisbon are very close (around 2 and a half hours away). This is the most common way that I travel to and from Badajoz as it is cheaper and takes you right to the centre of the city rather than the outskirts where the Airport is.

Other options?

Of course you can hire a car and drop it off at the local point in Elvas (over the border in portugal) or even cycle across the country but I would imagine most people will choose to fly or take the bus. Trains still aren't the most common method of transport here.

I hope that helps. Drop me a message if you have any more questions about travelling to Badajoz

my job

Ike the majority of British expats here in Badajoz I'm an English teacher with the small academy Badajoz English.

I've been teaching English for two years and a bit now originally in Ukraine but now out here in Badajoz, Spain.

I teach all sorts of ages and abilities from 3 year olds to 60 year olds who used to live in New York. I love the various groups as each has it's own challenge.
The difference between a group of teenagers and a one to one lesson can mean that everyday (and even within the day) is a different challenge.

Teaching English is a very common way for expats can work in another country or just earn extra cash in their retirement. I've even written a blog about how to start teaching English abroad.

People often think that Teaching English is an easy job and a great way to travel, and whilst it can certainly help people get around the world and experience a culture in a completely different way to just travelling through a country or place it isn't necessarily an easy ride. Earning enough to get by and have a little left in the bank is possible but many places require high working hours and extra duties not just in the contract. (then there's the conversion rate which can massively reduce any money earned abroad)

But despite this there are some nice features about being an English teacher abroad, getting to see different places, having time during the middle of the day to do whatever you want, the length of the holidays, meeting amazing new people all the time.

Yeah it's safe to say that I like my job here in Badajoz.

Introduction

Hi My name is Chris Wilson and I'm an English Man in Badajoz.

I moved here at the end of September 2012 to teach English as a foreign language in an academy here.

My aim of this blog is to provide some reviews, rants, pictures and generally bloggatry about what it is like living here in Badajoz so if you've never been to Badajoz or even Spain at all then you will still get an idea of what it is like living here.

Speaking of living here I have a small three bedroom flat about 5 minutes from the centre of Badajoz just of the main street. It wasn't that expensive and the rooms are comfortable. It also has a bathroom AND bonus toilet! A big plus.

However, it doesn't have any central heating which is very common amongst the flats that I looked at here in Badajoz. I didn't think it would be too bad as my image of Spain was a perpetual Summer (especially here on the way South, though not Andalucía by any means). Boy was I wrong. The winter here is actually fairly comparable with England, with temperatures dropping occasionally bellow zero. It IS warmer but not as significantly as it is during the summer.

Getting a heater for a flat is a big plus.

Oh yeah proper ovens are also pretty rare in flats here too. I saw one in all the flats that I looked at. I know my budgets wasn't the highest and if I had looked at houses to rent the situation would certainly have been different but it is a big annoying.

I have two housemates, Both of whom are Spanish and very nice. I'll tell you some more about them next time.