Circus of the Sun

Jerry took us out Sunday for a night on the ... tent.  Cirque du Soleil is in town and Jerry suggested, spur of the moment, that we get tickets and head over.  The show is "Corteo," one we haven't seen — and we've seen most, from all but one of the shows in Las Vegas to many of the road/tent shows.

BOUNCING BEDS.  MY FAVORITE ACT.  UNRESTRAINED JOY.

We had spotted the tent on one of our rides back from IKEA, so we knew that although it was across the river, it was walkable (perhaps 2 km).  However, given that it was still hovering around 31C (88F) when we headed out, we decided to take a cab and then stroll back in the cool after the show.

A TRAPEZE ACT WITH NO TRAPEZE.  JUST ARMS.  PHENOMENAL.

The tent was set up on an undeveloped parcel of land.  I didn't know what the neighborhood was called.  And, once we got in the cab, I realized I also didn't know how to say tent.  Also, the word for circus — circo — had slipped my mind.  But we had another great cab driver.  He had no idea what Cirque du Soleil was.  When he asked if I meant "Circo del Sol,"  I said without thinking "no."  That had to be something else.  After all, we never translated it to Circus of the Sun when we lived in the United States.  Fortunately, Jerry and I knew exactly where it was, so simply directed the driver.  We (the driver and I) had a great conversation.  I'm amazed at how much more I can understand now, seemingly by osmosis.  Once we neared the tent, we straightened out the confusion. I explained that we don't translate the name into English and that I didn't know the word for "the house that the circus is in" (that's what I said in Spanish).  I now do, thanks to the driver.  In this case, the word for tent is "carpa."

AFTER THE SHOW.  LOOKING BACK AT THE CARPAS.

We figured Cirque du Soleil would be a great show to see.  Our language skills would not be put to the test.  The only talking they ever do in their non-Vegas shows is some random word here and there.  Most of what you hear is nonsense language. Even the songs are written in no known language. But, just to keep us on our toes, this show had narration.  Of course in Spanish.  There was an actual story we were supposed to follow.  "A clown pictures his own funeral taking place in a carnival atmosphere, watched over by angels." I managed to keep up with most of it and would pass info along to Jerry — unsolicited — as I thought necessary. But it wasn't necessary for the enjoyment of the acts.  There were several inside jokes written just for the Sevillano audience.  I did catch a joke about the two football teams.  At one point, one of the clowns made an absolutely hilarious comment that had the entire audience roaring with laughter.  I have no clue what he said...

CROSSING THE RIVER ON THE WALK HOME.
BRIDGE IN BACKGROUND IS THE ONE WE CROSSED IN JULY AFTER THE TRIANA FAIR.