Thursday, October 10, 2013

Fair (To Middling)

San Geraldo and I walked over to Feria Fuengirola (the annual Fuengirola Fair) Wednesday at dusk. It was joyful, loud, colorful, and dazzling. Click any image to increase the spectacle.

WHAT WE SAW ON OUR ARRIVAL.

I was so happy to be at the Fair and, after a couple of hours — of music blasting from every direction; and noise of all kinds; and barkers hawking rides and food and games; and crowds growing by the second; and flashing lights — I was also happy to leave it.


Although we've been known to enjoy the rides (I just won't go on anything that goes upside down and/or backwards and San Geraldo doesn't like soaring to or from great heights), we didn't try anything this time. I figure I shouldn't push my luck, given how I've been feeling (improved but not better; it's back to the specialist for me Friday). I was simply grateful to be able to spend three hours on my feet.

HE REMOVED HIS SHIRT FOR ME.  I SNAPPED A PICTURE.
HE LIFTED HIS SKIRT FOR ME.  I SMILED AND WAVED "ADIOS."

San Geraldo was perfectly content as a spectator. A great night's free entertainment for us both. Not long after we arrived, we stopped to watch one of the rides. At that very moment, two blurred faces swept into view and I said, "That's Tynan's kids!" They spotted us and waved, and I looked to the right to see Tynan standing on the sidelines.

TYNAN'S KIDS (ARMS IN THE AIR).
LATER, DOLING OUT THE MONEY TO HIS AMAZINGLY WONDERFUL (AND DESERVING) KIDS.
(I HADN'T REALIZED TYNAN WAS IN THE SHOT OR I WOULD HAVE GOTTEN MORE OF HIM.)

After losing 30 pounds, San Geraldo's biggest challenge was not doing his usual "country fair chow-down" of several ears of corn and a few funnel cakes. It was the first time he's felt tempted, but the temptation quickly passed — although he was clearly happy to finally leave. On our way home, we stopped at Sandpiper for a very substantial and healthy dinner.

LIGHTS!  (THERE WERE ALREADY CAMERAS AND ACTION.)

PERMANENT SCULPTURE ON ONE OF THE PLAZAS INSIDE THE  FAIRGROUNDS.
ONE OF THE HALLS, ALL SET UP TO PARTY.

BOB ESPONJA, AKA SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS.  (THIS LOOKED ABOUT OUR SPEED).
GREAT TO SEE FRESHLY MADE COTTON CANDY (ALGODÓN DE AZÚCAR).
(EVEN THOUGH I'VE NEVER LIKED COTTON CANDY).

THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THERE. UPSIDE DOWN. IT'S BUNGEE CORD.
ON THE STREET OUTSIDE THE FAIRGROUNDS.
RIGHT: ALTRAMUCES, WHITE LUPINS (A VERY COMMON BAR SNACK HERE).
LEFT: CHUFAS, TIGER NUTS OR EARTH ALMONDS.  BOTH ARE HIGH IN PROTEIN AND FIBER.
THE FIRST TIME I EVER SAW COCONUT SERVED THIS WAY WAS IN LIVORNO, ITALY.
BACK OUTSIDE AND ON OUR WAY HOME. 
SLUSHIE AND SON BREAKING IN THE RIDES OPENING DAY.
 I LOVE THIS SHOT! I SAW IT ON SLUSHIE'S FACEBOOK PAGE AND ASKED TO USE IT.

Super Olla (Super Saucepan)
Super Olla was San Geraldo's favorite ride — to watch. We must have stood there for 20 minutes. Jessica, at Sandpiper, told us during dinner that when it's not busy the emcee actually stands in the middle of the ride and dances the entire time it does its flips and spins, without ever losing his footing. That I'd like to see. My brother Chuck will like this simply because the emcee is wearing a New York Yankees baseball cap and, for whatever reason, the Statue of Liberty appears in the background. Truly Great Nephew Jack would simply point to the mural and say, "Boobies!" (click here)



THE BIG SPIN AT THE FINISH.
(IT HAD ALREADY BEGUN TO SLOW AT THIS POINT.)

19 comments:

  1. You painted a wonderful fun time at the fair and reminded me of the feelings of childhood at what was for a child such a magical experience.

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    1. Andrew:
      So glad. These weren't "the thing" in NYC. I've grown to love them (well except for the Orange County Fair in California... that felt really seedy)!

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  2. This carnival would have turned me inside out when I was a kid. Maybe it still would.

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    1. Stephen:
      I wasn't big on wild rides when I was a kid. Grew to enjoy many of them as an adult. But I do have my limits (and many of these are well past there)!

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  3. Okay... I tried to write a "logical" post.... it went out into never-never land. Just wanted to add that those carnival things don't set well with me... and tonight i've had a bit too much wine to even think of one of those rides without having serious side effects... and you think YOU'RE bad-off.!

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    1. The Odd Essay:
      Hmmm... Would love to read the "illogical post"! So I take it you won't be flying in next year to try out "Super Olla"?

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  4. Who doesn't love a 'fair'!? I am a 'ride' observer as well.....when I was a kid I would go one the rides and vomit after each one! Only to go to the next!
    Love the colour you captured Mitch.
    Good luck at doctor's appointment tomorrow.

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    1. Jim:
      Wow! I never did get sick on a ride. Although I did once regret riding a Tilt-a-Whirl (which usually gave me no problems); maybe it was the fact that I ate three hot dogs BEFORE the ride.

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  5. Wow. That ride is just dizzying to look at.
    Jerry has lost 30 pounds!?! Wow! That's fabulous! He must feel great!
    I'm wondering...about all of the ladies in the flamenco-looking type dresses... do you think that they are all dressed like that at these things because they're going to be performing? or because it is traditional to wear that kind of clothing to these ferias?

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    1. Judeet:
      Yep, San Geraldo is down (now, more than) 30 pounds. He looks and feels great.

      The beautifully turned out women are not performing. They're just celebrating Feria. There are "casetas" all along the way with music and dancing into the night. To give you an idea, check out last year's Feria blogpost from Sevilla: http://mitchellismoving.blogspot.com.es/2012/04/caseta-and-couple-of-cool-cats.html

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  6. Wow! I have to start my comment this way, too. It's pretty impressive, but I'm not a crowd person and fairs are probably not my thing. But I'm really glad you got to go and I hope you are truly better soon..........How amazing that Jerri has lost so much weight. That's really impressive. Congratulations to him.

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    1. Kristi:
      Jerry will be grateful for the congratulations. He's a new man (or, I should say a "young" man). He looks amazing. I'll share photos as soon as he lets me!

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  7. Somehow I find myself wondering how Chagall would have painted this, though it's not really his subject. Maybe the fantasy feeling of it all?

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    1. Kristi:
      I never would have thought of Chagall and I love the idea!

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  8. I'd have loved this, being another ride-watcher at fairs. (I've been to Munich's Oktoberfest 3 times, though not for a long time now, when I was brave enough to try all the rides except those that turned you upside down.).) The Super Olla looks great fun for both watchers and those brave enough to have a go. Marvellous to catch the fun of people enjoying themselves - it's infectious.

    Btw: It seems from your posts that the Spanish do little other than dressing themselves up, having fun, eating and drinking, and, presumably, having siestas. Very nice if you can do it, but don't they have to work?

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    1. Raybeard:
      Well, I've seen lots of dressing up, having fun, eating, and drinking in my 2+ years in Southern Spain. I've also seen the same people working their butts off. I personally get a different sense of joyousness here than I did in the States.

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  9. If I´d known you were going for a healthy dinner to the sandpiper after I would have joined you!!! I like Feria but with no kids hanging on my arm begging me for another ride.
    Lovely pics, by the way. You should have taken one of Tynan.

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    1. Elena:
      That (you joining us at Sandpiper) would have made the evening so much better! I was so focused on grabbing candid shots of the kids that I never even tried to catch Tynan. But I think that shot of his hands counting out the euros told the story.

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