La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.
San Geraldo and I went out for dinner again last night. We simply needed it. Forgetting it was Valentine’s Day, I made a reservation (nothing was available after 8:45) and arrived at the restaurant to find it full and reset entirely to tables for two. Every twosome appeared to be under the age of 25. Unthinkingly, I wore a red and black plaid shirt. Red was the dominant color. Isn’t it romantic?
After dinner, SG headed directly home while I went off to see what was going on relating to Carnaval (Spanish for Carnival) which ends next Sunday. As you likely know, Carnival is the celebration that precedes Lent and Easter. Maybe you also know the word “carnival” comes from the Latin “vale carne” which means “farewell to meat”? I did not.
This is what I saw last night at and on my way to Plaza de las Tendillas where the entertainment was focused. I’ll be back out this afternoon and evening to catch what’s going on around town and at Plaza de la Corredera this time.
There’s a parade next weekend and all sorts of competitions during Carnaval. The two most common musical groups are comparsas and chirigotas. A comparsa consists of usually 12–16 performers and the singers and musicians tend to be of a higher caliber than those in a chirigota. Chirigotas are usually 7–12 performers and are more humorous and satirical, and higher energy. I’m hoping to catch a chirigota before the festitivites end. Chirigotas tend to perform randomly in the streets in addition to performing on stage. I’m pretty sure the group I saw last night (watch below) was a comparsa.
Although the wind shook the building for most of the day Saturday, the sun shone the entire time. More of the same today, without the wind. Lots of sunshine predicted for the foreseeable future (except Monday). Over the past four months, Córdoba has received its annual total rainfall.
San Geraldo y yo salimos a cenar otra vez anoche. Simplemente lo necesitábamos. Olvidé que era San Valentín, así que hice una reserva (no había nada disponible después de las 20:45) y llegué al restaurante para encontrarlo lleno y con mesas para dos. Todos los que estábamos allí parecían menores de 25 años. Sin darme cuenta, me puse una camisa a cuadros roja y negra. El rojo era el color predominante. ¿A que es romántico?
Después de cenar, SG se fue directo a casa mientras yo iba a ver qué pasaba con el Carnaval, que termina el próximo domingo. Como probablemente saben, el Carnaval es la celebración que precede a la Cuaresma y la Pascua. ¿Quizás también sepan que la palabra “carnaval” viene del latín “vale carne”, que significa “adiós a la carne”? Yo no.
Esto es lo que vi anoche en y de camino a la Plaza de las Tendillas, donde se centró la animación. Volveré esta tarde y noche para ver qué pasa en la ciudad y en la Plaza de la Corredera esta vez.
Hay una cabalgata el próximo fin de semana y todo tipo de competiciones durante el Carnaval. Los dos grupos musicales más comunes son las comparsas y las chirigotas. Una comparsa suele estar formada por entre 12 y 16 artistas, y los cantantes y músicos suelen ser de mayor calibre que los de una chirigota. Las chirigotas suelen tener entre 7 y 12 artistas y son más humorísticas y satíricas, y con más energía. Espero ver una chirigota antes de que acaben las festividades. Las chirigotas suelen actuar de forma aleatoria en las calles, además de en el escenario. Estoy bastante seguro de que el grupo que vi anoche (ver abajo) era una comparsa.
Aunque el viento sacudió el edificio durante la mayor parte del sábado, el sol brilló todo el tiempo. Hoy más de lo mismo, sin viento. Se pronostica mucho sol en el futuro próximo (excepto el lunes). Durante los últimos cuatro meses, Córdoba ha recibido su precipitación anual total.
• Avenida del Gran Capitán con el Gran Teatro a la derecha. Al parecer, estas cuatro acababan de salir del escenario después de que su grupo actuara/compitiera en la Plaza de las Tendillas. No sé qué hicieron.
• Llegada a la Plaza de las Tendillas.
• Calle Conde de Gondomar. Mirando hacia atrás desde la Plaza de las Tendillas.
Glad the rain stayed away for Carnaval!
Carlos asked if I wanted to go out for dinner last night and I shrieked, “On Valentine’s Day???”
He’d forgotten that we don’t go out on what is commonly called “Amateur Night” for people who only go to dinner on holidays.
Bob:
It didn’t even cross my mind about Valentine’s Day. I’ll sure remember next year. Yikes!
What a fantastic discovery!
Rade:
So glad I went looking.
How fun, when you are singing with the group, you will truly be Spanish.
David:
That IS something I dream about.
This sounds like a lot of fun.Lent used to be a much more somber time and people really needed to party ahead. All that fasting and abstinence. Boud
Boud:
I guess you have to get it out of your system. Sin as much as you can because for 40 days you can’t sin at all. Then you can start again.
Smart that you made reservations…….we didn’t, and had to pass up our fav Korea. n restaurant. Valentine’s is very popular all over I guess.
Cordoba has so much to offer. I enjoy your guided tours.
Jim:
I always make reservations now. It’s become a habit, just in case. Thanks for coming along with me!
Among all those young lovebirds at the restaurant, did you and SG feel like the grizzled veterans showing them how to survive in the game of love?
Debra:
Surprisingly, we didn’t really feel out of place. Although, SG did comment that none of them were born yet when we met. I added that many of their parents were probably not born yet either.
I like Debra’s comment/question.
I’ve never seen an act quite like that. Unlike with the Bad Bunny performance, not knowing the language left me a bit mystified. As are those children onstage. Seemingly, at least.
You sure live in a beautiful place.
Ms. Moon
Ms. Moon:
Two of the kids appeared to be girls, which made me so happy. These are traditionally all-male groups. I never knew anything about them, but have seen chirigotas perform and they can be hilarious. One group used to come to Mesón Salvador every year to wind down. They’d take over a large table and drink and perform… and take the piss out of whoever was in the news at the time. King Juan Carlos had been in the news for a poorly thought out African hunting trip. They were all in safari gear with brass African animals attached to their caps. Cádiz has the most brilliant competitions and costume. I’ve watched online.
I only noticed one girl but I was happy to see her. Glad to hear there was another.
Ms. Moon:
The two kids on the right (stage left) were girls.
Whatever they were singing about, who cares when they’re so visually arresting? Great fun!
Raybeard:
Exactly. I could pick up a word here and there, but that was all. And I didn’t really care.
Seems like Cordoba goes from one celebration to the next. Decorations, events, costumes, performances!
ellen abbott:
You’re right about that. We noticed that in Sevilla in our first year in Spain. Plus, it seemed like there was a new Virgin every day of the week.
World-renowned scholar that I am, still I did not know that’s where “carnaval” came from. I stand enlightened! Not to cast aspersions, but the girl in the gold-lamé shorts might want to have a chat with her couturier… just sayin’.
wickedhamster:
I was sure you would have known that word origin. But then it’s not a very academic subject so not much reason to be thinking about it. The girls were all happy and feeling good. That’s all that matters.
To quote the saintly Celia Cruz: ¡La Vida es un Carnaval!
Every time we’ve been in Spain, we’ve either been too early or too late to experience one. It looks like loads of fun! Jx
Jon:
We’ve been here most of the past 15 years during Carnaval and I never bothered checking things out.
Interesting that Carnaval goes through Sunday (a week from today?). The season officially kicked off here on January 6 with Epiphany and will end with Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday, Shrove Tuesday, Pancake Day). I wasn’t up to baking a King Cake this year.
On a different note, I had a bizarre dream last night. Well, most of my dreams are bizarre (enhanced by my medication) but this time you called me on the phone! It showed up as Málaga on the screen, so I answered it knowing it would be you. You were warning me to be careful if I got out in the storms. All I can figure is I heard it raining all night and I knew Steve and Dave were headed to Málaga today. It all made perfect sense in the dream. 🙄
Kelly:
Maybe there are still Carnaval events simply because Lent starts Wednesday and planners want to take advantage of another weekend. That’s a wild dream. I’m honored to be found in your sub-conscious and doing something good at that. Yes, be careful! So excited to see Steve and Dave.
I know we technically have it with Mardi Gras. When we were in New Orleans all that kind of stuff was all over the place. But we didn’t get to see the festival just the merchandise 😂
Adam
Nekorandom.com
Adam:
I’ve never been to Mardi Gras (nor even New Orleans). That’s so often the case that all you see at any of these events is the merchandise.
I didn’t know anything about Carnaval, so you’ve educated me. I didn’t even realize we’re so close to the beginning of Lent. January went on so long I wasn’t sure we had left it.
Love,
Janie
janiejunebug:
I knew nothing about Carnaval either. I’ve never checked things out here in Spain.
No, I did not know about vale carne meaning what it means… very cool. Gracias 🙂
I’m glad you had sun. 🙂
Judy C:
I found that word origin fascinating.
I am currently reading a book on the history of Carnival in Europe. Who knew? Alas we don’t have a fraction of it here in the states.
Urspo:
How coincidental. Wouldn’t you love to be in Rio for one? Well maybe not.
“Unthinkingly, I wore a red and black plaid shirt. Red was the dominant color. Isn’t it romantic?”
Lumbersexual.
Kirk:
Well, sort of. Metrosexual lumberjack by Ovadia & Sons of New York.