Not Your Traditional Noche Buena

Noche Buena means Christmas Eve. Papa Noel (Santa Claus) was not all that common or popular in Sevilla. Traditionally, The Three Kings are the ones who deliver the presents — and then, not until January 6.

PAPA NOEL IN FUENGIROLA.

Here in Fuengirola, however, with the huge mix of cultures and nationalities, Papá Noel makes his rounds Christmas Eve followed by the Three Kings on their usual day in January.

CAFE MANILA’S SLUSHEE (OR MAMA NOEL).

At Cafe Manila today, Slushee wanted the entire staff to wear Santa hats or reindeer antlers while they worked. It’s something I’m told she wants every year. And not everyone cooperates.

RICHARD NOEL…
TYNAN SCROOGE.

The seasonal sights of Fuengirola. (Click the below images for a closer look.)

MUMMY, IS THAT YOU?  CONSTITUTION PLAZA.
ANOTHER ICED-UP TREE.  IN FRONT OF CITY HALL.
POINSETTIAS ARE PLANTED ALL OVER THE CITY.
(THEY’RE CALLED FLOR DE PASCUA, CHRISTMAS FLOWER.)
SUNDAY: ANOTHER GENIUS AT WORK.
MONDAY: THE FINISHED PRODUCT. (NOTE THE CLOCK TOWER, BOTTOM CENTER.)

It took me two entire days last week. But I finished all my chocolate treats.

NO MORE…
EMPTY…
ALL GONE…
APPARENTLY, THIS CAN BE RESEALED TO KEEP THE CONTENTS FRESH FOR DAYS.
NOW, WHY WOULD THAT BE NECESSARY?

So, yesterday, when I was out on my long meander, I picked up a couple of boxes (two large bars per box) of turrón as a treat for myself (one turrón doesn’t even have chocolate). San Geraldo was out grocery shopping at the time. He didn’t know about my turrón, so he picked up more treats for me. (I didn’t bring home anything for him.)  This morning, San Geraldo stopped off to pick up a few things at the fruit market. Ana sent home gifts for me, too. More chocolate! You’d think I’d be smiling all the time…

THIS SHOULD LAST A FEW DAYS. (CLICK IF YOU’RE A CHOCOHOLIC.)
FROM ANA AND FAMILY…  FRESH CHOCOLATE MADE BY ANA’S BROTHER.
(DARK CHOCOLATE WITH RUM-SOAKED RAISINS; WHITE CHOCOLATE WITH LEMON AND WALNUTS)
And finally, another Christmas tradition…

Author: Moving with Mitchell

From Brooklyn, New York; to North Massapequa; back to Brooklyn; Brockport, New York; back to Brooklyn... To Boston, Massachusetts, where I met Jerry... To Marina del Rey, California; Washington, DC; New Haven and Guilford, Connecticut; San Diego, San Francisco, Palm Springs, and Santa Barbara, California; Las Vegas, Nevada; Irvine, California; Sevilla, Spain. And Fuengirola, Málaga..

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