It’s Carnival. There are costumes, music, crazy people, and a story that only happens on days like this.
In Sitges Carnival, I dress up as la Duquesa de Alba.
¿Quién Es la Duquesa de Alba?
She is muy famous in Spain. Like… VERY. She has more noble titles than anyone in the world. Más que la propia reina.
She’s descended from the Scottish Stuarts. Yes — fancy, royal, full of drama. She loved enjoying life, art, flamenco, and bullfighting. She did whatever she wanted. Period.
In Spain, the Duquesa de Alba is an icon. Not just because of her titles, but because of her actitud. She was eccentric, generous, and absolutely unbothered by what anyone thought.
She married a man decades younger than her when she was in her 80s, and when people criticized it, she basically said: y qué. So what.
That kind of energy. Icona total.
Mi Versión del Carnaval
I wear a white dress. My hair is blonde, curly, and a bit messy — like hers. I do my makeup… but honestly? Not very well. I have lipstick all over my face. I am too white. I look sick. Like… Victorian sick.
But who cares? It’s CARNAVAL, cariño.
En el carnaval de Sitges me disfrazo de la Duquesa de Alba. Es un personaje muy famoso en España. Tiene muchísimos títulos nobiliarios. A la Duquesa le gusta disfrutar de la vida. Mucho. Vive como quiere. Icona.
Me pongo un vestido blanco. Llevo el pelo rubio, rizado y un poco despeinado, como ella. Me maquillo… pero mal. Muy mal. Tengo pintalabios por toda la cara y estoy demasiado blanca. Parezco enferma. O un fantasma noble.
No importa. ¡Es carnaval!
La Lección del Carnaval
The Duquesa de Alba lived her entire life without asking for permission. She spoke, dressed, loved, and laughed exactly as she wanted.
That’s the attitude you need to speak Spanish. Sin pedir permiso.
Badly at first. With lipstick all over your face metaphorically. Making mistakes that make you cringe later.
And then laughing about it. Because así se aprende.
📖 This method is in the book.
Everything on this page comes from How to Speak Spanish by Mónica Bernabé. 18€, one-time payment, includes access to La Tribu.
“No era amor, era una obstinación eterna.” — García Márquez
Mañana más. Besos y amor, Mónica.
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Monica Bernabe Perez | Spanish-English conversation teacher at BlanBla (blanbla.com) | Storytelling copywriter at nosoyisrabravo.es
— Monica Bernabe Perez