Hey Lionda,

Your fiesta sounds like it's really good fun!
Plenty going on........................and lots more to come.
Hope you won't be too exhausted come the end of it all!?

We went to another fiesta last night, in our nearest town.
It celebrates the town's patrona, Victoria, and lasts for a fortnight!
Last night's events were to wish the statue a safe journey back to her normal resting place in the town's castle (she'd been brought down to the church in the Plaza last week)

I'm not a religious person, but I LOVE the atmosphere at this particular event.
There's a church service, and then when the statue comes out of the church, all the lights around the Plaza are turned out - and everyone claps.
Then the "Salve" is sung to the statue; it's really uplifting to hear about a thousand people all singing this rousing tune. It makes my skin tingle!
I'm going to learn the words for next year

After the salve, there's a fabulous firework display
There was a man in front of me saying, "200 Euros!" and "another 200!" every time a firework exploded!! Then he added "There go my taxes!"

Our Spanish friends joked that the reaction to fireworks was muti-lingual; because "Ooh" and "Aah" sound the same in any language!!

O/H and I were saying that it sure beats Guy Fawkes, when you can stand there watching a display wearing shorts and a T shirt!

Afterwards, we went and had a bocadillo and a drink in a terrace bar with our friends.
The loveliest thing was seeing so many age groups all enjoying the festivities together. Little tots were playing in the park at 1 am, the weather was still very warm and there was so much chatter going on that it sounded like the League of Nations!
The other thing is, that so many people go from all the surrounding villages - and everyone knows (or is related to!) everyone else, so everyone talks to and greets each other. You can't turn a corner without bumping into someone you know.
Truly magical

As we were leaving to come home around 2 am, we had a quick dance in the Plaza; and I saw this beautiful little girl aged about 2, doing a fantastic dance - hands above her head, wiggling her hips; it was priceless!

Here are some pics just for you Jean - we were sitting outside our favourite tapas bar at the time the procession passed by.....

Thanks Lionda , don't they look elaborite,goodness they go to so much trouble and effort for the occasion,I will soon be enjoying a tapas bar or two,I hope there is a fiesta whilst we are in Spain,I think there is during Sept not sure its a shame you are quite a bit further north than we are going,we could of met for a tapas ,thanks for posting the pics luv

Don't forget to vote for George

Fab photos Lionda!

Everyone taking part certainly seems to be very smiley and enjoying themselves.
Did you go and see the battle re-enactments at all?

Now, just how many tapas bars do you frequent missus!!?
What's your favourite tapas?
Mine's patatas ali-oli..................yummy!

Went to see the battle re-enactments but the noise was too much, they were shooting randomly into the air and it was deafening so we came away.

The tapas bars are fun as we get to talk to the local people. Ha ha we don't do them all in the one day - we spread it out over the week

My favourite tapas is the spinach, whatever they cook it with is delicious yum!

Its fiesta week in Ayamonte this week and there are different things going on everyday. Tonight at 7pm at the Plaza de toros there is a Gran Corrida de torros. Does anyone know what that will involve? I fancy going but I dont want to see any bulls getting killed. If it is just a parade then we wil go, if there is a bull fight then theres no way I will be going.

Good morning Pam, In my account of my summer in Competa I mentioned that I went to a bullfight, I didn't say much about it as I didn't want to offend anyone and when i suggested a couple of photos I got the feelig that I had better not. I went because I was invited to, because it is part of spanish culture and that I may not have another chance to go to one. I spent a lot of my youth, foxhunting and although i won't get into that argument, I am always annoyed how peole make an opinion of something they haven't seen and don't know anything about. So that was another reason I felt I should go. I can honestly say i don't regret it, I won't go into my views, but it surprised me.I Have loads of photos and some video clips, I wasn't sure how I would react to the kills, and decided just incase i was goingto throw up or something, yes I did have all these thoughts, I decided to hold the camera up and look away, sad but true. But when I looked back at the pics I decided I could be brave with the next. I had to completely detatch myself from the bull, oooh maybe I should just e mail you all this as I don't want to offend.
Will send in a mo,
Luv Eve

Oh Eve............I'm sorry!

I was the one who responded to your question about posting piccies of the bullfight with a "Noooooooooooo!" (Although I think I added a smilie, which was meant to indicate that it was a slightly tongue in cheek response)

I intended to post again on that thread, because you said you had some footage that wasn't about killing the bull - but as you know with these threads, they run away with you sometimes (!) and I just didn't get around to it

Anyway, what I'm trying to say is, we've all got different opinions about all sorts of matters - but if you want to post photos or video clips of the bullfight that you went to, who am I to stop you?
I can either choose to look at them, or not.

However, I do feel it is possible to have an opinion about something that you haven't actually experienced, you know.
You wouldn't expect people to have experienced domestic violence before they could have an opinion it it, would you?

Thank you for your consideration as to how I / other people might feel - but please don't think I was trying to stop you!

A Spanish friend recently went to her first bullfight...............but she only went to gawp like a start struck teenager at a particular matador!!

All good wishes to you,
from Sam.

Hi Sam,

I'm not sure whether a Gran Corrida literally means a big bullfight................or a "run" of bulls!??
Which isn't a lot of use to you, is it!

I know here, they have different bull "events" for women and children - which I believe involves very young bulls, and is just the chance to show off some cape waving manoeuvres.
But don't take my word for it, because I've never explored it all that much.

I'm sure there'll be someone on here who knows though.

Hi Ya, no not thinking you were trying to stop me at all, I have run alongside opinions like this for many a year on foxhunting so now i let people make their own opinions and wouldn't post too much if I didn't feel the need to. All the info is out there for people to see for themselves. Each to their own I say, but don't be led! I wouldn't want to upset anyone in anyway. I think this site is too good for bickering between peoples beliefs.
So on onather note, I think spanish and the spanish people are brilliant even though Ihave friends ho think they are rude and arrogant, but that is a different part of spain to me and would want to mention the area as some on here live there! I find it hard to believe because they have said the same about most parts they have visited, I don't think it is really like that, they just have a slight glitch that all is not as they hoped. i hope they do find their perfect little bit of spain eventually but I won't hold my breath.It is a shame though. it was his dream.
Anyway talking of spontaneous , I have just recieved an invite out tonight that is unexpected so proves there if like left in this country!! better go as i need to get some gardening done and some cleaning and all the things I should have done all week but have got in from school each day and just had the urge to sit in garden and nod off!
take care
Luv Eve
xx