While walking home from dinner Friday night with Teré near La Alameda de Hercules (with the requisite stop at a nearby ice cream place), we were surprised to come upon a little fair with food tents, souvenirs, speeches and activities, and a couple of children’s rides.
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| THE FAIR STARTED AT 8:30 P.M. WE PASSED BY CLOSE TO 11. |
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| WE DISCOVERED THAT JERRY AND TERÉ BOTH LOVE BUMPER CARS (COCHES DE CHOQUE). (NOW WE HAVE TO FIND SOME THEIR SIZE.) |
We found a schedule of events, which included raffles, fund-raisers, and a variety of musical performances (we arrived between events and San Geraldo was in a hurry to get his ice cream and get home to bed). The fair was a “velá” which Teré explained is a small festival. This one was called the Velá del Carmen. The Virgin of Carmen is the protector of seaman (that’s men that go out to sea, oh ye with dirty minds).
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| HOT TIME IN THE CITY. |
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| CARS. |
I grabbed some quick photos before I was dragged off kicking and screaming to suffer through a scoop of hazelnut and a scoop of orange ice cream. It was hell. No photos of the ice cream. My hands were full.
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| TERÉ SAID THEY PROBABLY WORKED THERE. I ASKED, “WHERE? THE STREET?” (THAT WAS ONCE A COMMON SIGHT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD — BUT NEVER SO FESTIVELY DRESSED.) |
More fun times! (I'm so sorry to hear that you were forced to experience yet another few scoops of ice cream. Will it never end!?!)
Judy
Seine Judeet:
I really don't mind all the sacrifices I've had to make. I'm just that kind of guy. We have family in town right now and I forced myself to have some more ice cream this afternoon. No, it will never end!
I find the idea of having a carnival beginning at 8:00 at night to be really odd. There are moms with strollers and little kids out late at night? It's a very different way of life!
Ms. Sparrow:
Schedules are very different here. Since there's a 2- or 3-hour siesta every day, people work until much later. So many people aren't finished with their workday until 7 or 8 or later. That means dinner has to be later; so kids are awake and out later. In the heat of summer, people eat dinner anywhere from 9 to 11 to take advantage of dropping temperatures at night. Jerry and I adapted very readily to how life is lived here. But it is a major change from the way Americans and Brits (and others I'm sure) live.
good thing you explained seaman…lol.
what a magical place you live…and lets face it, the world can never have to many virgins 🙂
Monkey Man:
I don't know how many people would agree with you about the virgins!
This looks like lots of fun – I like an old fashioned fair!
Carole:
It really is charming.
You are living a life of hazelnut and orange ice cream interruptus…I can handle that!
Ron
Ron:
Not much interruptus…mostly "ice cream continuus."
So many fairs.
So many virgins!
Bob:
I really had no idea there were so many virgins.
Those of us with dirty minds also know how to spell. 😉
Walt the Fourth:
But I'll bet you still tee-hee'd when you read it.
Well, yeah.
I'm still recovering from the sight of the Renault Tizwoz in your previous post. A bit too close to a mobility scooter to be used anywhere except the most cosmopolitan/civilised areas methinks!
No-one's said it yet, so I shall: all of these fairs and parades is virgin on the ridiculous.
Are you certain that the two in the last photograph aren't police officers, possibly in plain clothing or disguise?
The Owl Wood;
But what a cool mobility scooter!
It is surprising you're the first one to make the "virgin" pun (especially when wcs is around).
You call that "plain" clothing?
I swear, it's as if you live in this constant wonderland….
Maria:
And may it stay this way forever…
It seams every day is a good day for some kind of celebration.
Peter:
There's always some excuse…
Great pictures of the fair…the colors are so "festive" : )
Hazelnut & orange ice cream sound wonderful. Now I'm hungry for ice cream…
LadyCat:
Today's two flavors were mango and lemon. Who knows what tomorrow will bring? (Perhaps the gym!)
I never quite come to terms with Catholicism's proclivity for virgins. Most virgins I know have a slightly severe and pained expression, like an actress on stage imitating a cheap pain.
Spo:
And I had no idea there were so many!