Thursday, April 26, 2012

Have I Stayed Too Long at the Fair?

The rain is supposed to be on its way, but it kindly held off so we could visit Feria. San Geraldo and I took the bus. But, the bus got crowded. So we gave up our seats and stood by an open window to get some air. We were still hot and uncomfortable. So, having walked 10 minutes to reach the bus, having spent 20 minutes on the bus, we got off early and walked the last 20 minutes — a total of 50 minutes for what should have been a 35-minute walk. But we now know another bus route and I had the charming company of the infinitely fascinating San Geraldo.

COLOR-COORDINATION?  SEEN ON OUR WAY TO THE BUS.

COLORFUL PERSONALITY.  MEETING SOMEONE AT THE BUS STOP.
SOMEONE WAS APPARENTLY ON "SEVILLA TIME" AND THIS LADY WAS NOT HAPPY ABOUT IT.

The light wasn't ideal for picture-taking (but I took pictures anyway). We passed some of the 1,040 casetas. We saw beautiful horses, riders, and carriages (all were beautiful — not just the horses). The children on horseback were exceptional. Jerry wondered aloud if he would look as good on a horse if he wore the short jacket and hat. I reminded him that he had never met a horse from which he hadn't fallen or been thrown. (He didn't need reminding.)

We strolled through the enormous, excruciatingly loud and noisy midway; ate a good (and healthy) lunch, unfortunately adjacent to the excruciatingly loud and noisy midway; and then walked all the way home (with a stop half-way for a couple of mango frappuccinos and dulce de leche cheesecake — just to give us strength).

BETTING ON A DARK HORSE IN BAD LIGHT.

I DON'T KNOW HOW ANYONE TOOK A CARRIAGE RIDE BEFORE THE ADVENT OF THE MOBILE PHONE.

A PAUSE IN THEIR PROMENADE.

THERE WAS A "MEGA" KANGURO BEHIND ME. A TRULY MEGA-MAXI MIDWAY.

WHERE'S WALDO... I MEAN... GERALDO?
(IN SPAIN, THE "WHERE'S WALDO" BOOKS ARE CALLED "¿DONDE ESTÁ WALLY?)

A STREET PERFORMER IN LOS REMEDIOS, A FEW BLOCKS FROM THE FAIR.
(SOMEONE SHOULD TELL HIM: SEMANA SANTA IS SO TWO WEEKS AGO.)

31 comments:

  1. Hello Mitch:
    All very, very colourful and so, so different from our own dear Queen!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. J&L:
      And unlike your dear Queen, many of the women don't carry purses (they have them hidden in the billowing hems of their dresses).

      Delete
  2. I can't believe that the street performance artist in the last photo shaved his dog to look like a lamb and spray-painted it silver-grey. The harridan with the huge flower in her hair at the bus-stop is a classic! I can't imagine anyone rushing to meet her, late or otherwise...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The Owl Wood:
      I'm even more impressed that the street performer's dog could be trained to stand motionless for an entire afternoon.

      Delete
  3. I love it, I wash I was there to enjoy it myself.

    Scott

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Scott:
      You're just about everywhere else!

      Delete
    2. Opps I meant " Wish". I wash in other places.

      Delete
  4. Good of the both of you to burn off the calories in the end. I'm not talking of the half-way refreshings, those are for another day.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Peter:
      We still had a mile to walk after the sustaining snack. At least some of it was burned off.

      Delete
  5. What a great Fair, very colourful. Not the sort of place you'd want to visit whilst on an LSD trip though Mitch.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Chris:
    The noise of midways are always assaultive, but this was by far the loudest I've ever experienced. I could feel vibrations in my head. Stoned? That would be one really bad trip.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I'm beginning to think that there are parades and festivals and fairs and pageants every single day there.
    How glorious.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Bob:
      It IS glorious. (But I don't think there's anything planned for Monday ... although I could be wrong.)

      Delete
  8. Riding buses is a tedious way of traveling no matter where you are.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ms. Sparrow:
      I'm not a huge fan of city buses, but they really are usually very pleasant and convenient here. Just not during Holy Week... or Feria... or...

      Delete
  9. that second photo is my mother!!!!

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    Replies
    1. John:
      And boy are you ever in trouble! She took one last look at her watch, muttering aloud the entire time, and then stromped on the bus. I think her last words as she sat down were, "¡Ese niño maldito!," which I think means "That damned boy!"

      Delete
  10. Love those horses! Incredible! Now that is a fair! Looks like a huge carnival. Were most of the participants younger people? We too would have found this too noisy....we (Ron and I) are SO OLD!
    Loved John's comment.....his mother will get him from beyond for that!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jim:
      It was the largest carnival sideshow I've seen. During the day, it's all ages, but we actually didn't see the teens and 20-somethings that much in the afternoon. At night, the casetas are filled with mature (in age) adults and the streets outside the casetas are filled with late teens and early 20-somethings partying to the extreme (but the adults in the casetas aren't far behind). The noise in the carnival area was, sadly, beyond extreme and we were there when there weren't that many people around. I can only imagine what it gets like later on (and come the weekend... although it's supposed to rain).

      Delete
    2. Mitch...Jim's days are numbered...btw..he's the older one by 1.5 years...phew!

      Delete
    3. Ha! (Oops, I'm in Spain...) Ja! Jim should probably speak for himself if he knows what's good for him. Jerry has me beat by 5 years. So, no matter how old I get, he's always especially OLD!

      Delete
  11. Last time I was in an El Corte Ingles, there was a sub-department in the Men's department called Vaquero. Is that where the men and boys on the horses go to buy their outfits?

    The riot of color and pattern is just marvelous!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Will:
    If you followed that "Vaqueros" sign, you would have ended up buying a pair of "Jeans."

    I had to stop myself from displaying every photo I took. A "riot of color" is a perfect description.

    ReplyDelete
  13. the last one seems a bit out of place.
    I love colour, so anyone who goes out in bright and bold colours gets my approval!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ur-spo:
      I think Silver Jesus got lost on his way home from Semana Santa.

      Sadly, my style still reflects my coming of age in NYC -- shades of black. Sevilla is inspiring me to step out with some color. (I think I'll start with brown...)

      Delete
    2. fie on 'brown'. and gray, and 'ash'
      scarlet and gold, and sky blue (not together) are always good.
      And think pink is a marvelous mantra.

      Delete
    3. Ur-spo:
      Oh, no, pink is definitely not my color. But my May 1 Resolution is to start shopping in color! Royal blue is a good one for me!

      Delete
  14. Mitch,
    Some of those costumes scare me, like kids are afraid of clowns! Love the horses though. I very often stop halfway for some refreshment, it's the only sensible thing to do darlink!
    Di
    X

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, Yonks, I didn't show you the truly scary ones. Jerry and I both actually commented that they looked like clown costumes. Most, however, were joyful.

      After 30 years with Jerry, I know that most walks require a stop for a treat!

      Delete
    2. What a blissful comment about Jerry! This only comes with time, love and enjoying each others presence. I hope you guys share many more treats!
      Love
      Di
      X

      Delete

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