Wow, do I ever have a lot of catching up to do. We had a wonderful, too-brief, trip to Sevilla with our friend Judyshannonstreetwhat — click here if you haven't been keeping up — to visit with some friends and to catch the Three Kings Parade. We had the inspiration to travel computer-less, which had me out of touch with everything.Tuesday morning, I woke up — in time for the 2-1/2-hour train ride home — with one of my allergy attacks that feels like the flu, in time for the train ride home. (Could I be allergic to something in Sevilla?) So I spent much of Wednesday and Thursday lounging and/or sleeping. And whining. But I'm back with over 400 photos to sort through.
Today's photos are from the Three Kings Parade (Cabalgata de los Tres Reyes), which occurred the day before "Epiphany" (Three Kings Day). Our friend Miguel met us in front of our hotel for a birds-eye view.
I made a number of new friends during the parade, most under the age of 10. Two girls, Julia and Marta, who had been studying English for a year and were doing exceptionally well. Adorable brothers who just smiled at me... a lot (the first photo). And, Adrian (pronounced ah-dree-AHN), a boy who knows a little English but is shy about using it. We practiced "thank you" and "your welcome" when I caught air-born candies and gave them to him.
(Click any image. You can almost taste the candies.)
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| EARLIER IN THE DAY... AT PLAZA DE ESPAÑA. |
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| AN APACHE IN FRONT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SEVILLA (AT LEFT). (NEAR WHERE THE PARADE STARTED.) |
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| LIKE GOING BACK IN TIME... EXCEPT FOR THE SNEAKERS. |
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| MARTA (RIGHT): "I HAVE A PET RABBIT." JULIA (LEFT): "I LIKE TO EAT RABBIT." |
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| A MATCHED SET. |
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| TWO CROWNED TWIZYS LED THE WAY. |
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| JUDY WAS SO EXCITED TO RECEIVE AN OFFICIAL CARAMELO (CANDY) BAG. |
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| MY PAL ADRIAN WHO CHASED VERY AGGRESSIVELY AFTER THE CANDY. HIS MOTHER HAD TO CONSTANTLY PULL HIM FROM BETWEEN THE FLOATS... AND HORSES. |
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| BLACK-FACE, WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO SIGNIFY THE MOORS. IT'S ALSO SUPPOSEDLY NOT OFFENSIVE, BUT I HAVE MY DOUBTS. |
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| THE SKY WAS FILLED WITH FLYING CARAMELOS. |
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| COLORFUL... |
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| MIGUEL DISPLAYING HIS SIMULTANEOUS CATCHES. JUDY (RIGHT) HAD HER MOUTH FILLED WITH CANDY AND MADE ME PROMISE TO CROP HER OUT OF THE PIC... BUT, IF I CROPPED HER OUT, YOU WOULD MISS SEEING MIGUEL'S WHISTLE... AND IT'S A VERY NICE WHISTLE. |
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| REY #1: MELCHOR |
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| FORT APACHE? |
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| THE PIRATES OF BETHLEHEM? |
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| NICE UNIFORMS. |
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| IMAGINE THE BOTTOMS OF OUR SHOES. |
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| OK... MAYBE IT WASN'T JUST A BIBLICAL THEME. |
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| LOS CAMELLOS (CAMELS) PLODDING THROUGH THE CARMELOS (CANDIES). |
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| REY #2: GASPAR |
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| I CAUGHT THIS FOAM RUBBER TOY CITY BUS (FROM THE BUS FLOAT). I GAVE IT TO ADRIAN AND HE SQUEALED, "YOUR WELCOME!!!" |
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| BEWARE OF GREEKS BEARING GIFTS. IF ONLY IT WERE FILLED WITH CANDY. |
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| SEVILLA HAS 2 FÚTBOL TEAMS. HERE'S CARLOS MARCHENA FROM "REAL BÉTIS." HE SAT BACK-TO-BACK WITH A PLAYER FROM "FÚTBOL CLUB SEVILLA." |
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| MADRID, WHICH I THINK ONLY USES BLACK-FACE FOR BALTASAR, RECENTLY RECEIVED A FORMAL PETITION TO STOP THE PRACTICE. |
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| REY #3: BALTASAR |
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| MORE MESS. |
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| BALTASAR WAS IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY THE STREET CLEANERS. |
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| INCREDIBLE CLEAN-UP. |
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| AFTER THE PARADE PASSED US BY, I TRIED TO GET ACROSS TOWN TO VISIT A FRIEND. I CUT THROUGH THE OLD TOWN AND GOT STUCK. I HAD TO WATCH THE ENTIRE PARADE ALL OVER AGAIN. HERE'S BALTASAR... THIS TIME WITH LIGHTS. |
And I leave you with the voice of Minnesota's own, Erin Schwab, San Geraldo's god-daughter — a singer, actress, radio personality, teacher, and all-round exceptional human being.
What a great parade!
ReplyDeleteLoved the kids--I personally feel right at home with ten-year-olds--they are all so adorable, though title of Most Adorable goes to Miguel and His Whistle.
Bob:
DeleteYeah, Miguel and his whistle were adorable! What a great day.
Looks like a great time away with your friends. I love that they use real camels for the parade. Cheers!
ReplyDeleteCheapchick:
DeleteDuring Christmas they have camel rides in different plazas around town.
(I've a feeling that I might have said this in a comment a few years back, so bear with me if you've heard it before).
ReplyDeleteIn Cologne, where I lived for three years, the magnificent, huge cathedral there houses the supposed tombs of the Three Kings - though I don't recall special events being held for their feast day. (It takes the Mediterraneans to do things in style - and any excuse will do to get the bunting out!) Strange how the bodies of the three were collected from different far-flung locations of the then known world (that's if there really were three kings/magi anyway, which is highly debatable) and 'parcelled' up for transit to a city in what was to be Germany, rather than somewhere like Rome or even Constantinople, which would have been so much easier to reach. But who am I to argue?
Very nice pics, by the way. The situation for the camels would be reason for them to be even grumpier than they're famed for being. And Erin has an impressive, strong voice too.
Ray:
DeleteI think I do remember you talking a bit about Cologne but not this specific story. I was there a long time ago, but didn't get a good sense of anything. I was 21. It was all about the German beer. I could have sworn the Three Kings were buried in Brooklyn (that's Kings County, so it's much more believable).
Wonderful in every way! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteMichael:
DeleteI'm glad you enjoyed it. There was so much smiling!
Great pictures. I feel like i was there along side of you. The expression on the face of that little boy in the first picture is priceless.
ReplyDeleteStephen:
DeleteWith kids, it's so hard to catch those moments. I couldn't believe he held that expression when he saw me lift he camera. He was adorable.
Sure makes me want to come back to Spain... especially Sevilla.... I know I don't need the candy, but wow! those parades!
ReplyDeleteSharon:
DeleteWe missed the parade the day before (nearly got stranded on one side of town because of it). The "Royal Herald" processes through town collecting "gift lists" from the kids, which then go to the Three Kings in time for Three Kings Day. No mailing to the North Pole!
Mitchell it is different from my place ( I have written about Three Kings Parade) but it is also very lovely and interesting..
ReplyDeleteGosia:
DeleteI had never even experienced a celebration of "Three Kings Day" until coming to Spain. Christmas lasts a REALLY long time here.
Very different from any parade in the US...definitely the black face would not be acceptable here, for lack of political correctness. Looks like so much fun, and Erin's voice is lovely.
ReplyDeleteLinda:
DeleteThe black face is strange to see and I would expect it will go the way of so many things (but not soon enough). Erin is an exceptional talent. She performs in clubs around The Twin Cities. Rock, Jazz, Soul, Blues, Gospel. Amazing. And chats between songs and is so quick-witted, charming, and hilarious.
Hope your feeling better....nothing worse than not being up to par when all that fun is going on!!!
ReplyDeleteCheers!
Ron:
DeleteThanks, Ron. Still managed to have an amazing time.
Good to see you again. Mitchell, you have a way of capturing the excitement, people, of whatever situation in which you find yourself. You show and tell all the highlights that caught your attention. I feel like I was there.
ReplyDeleteI was thinking about that sticky mess too and figured it would be cleaned up before you knew what happened.
Jim:
DeleteJudy's favorite part of the entire day was watching the clean-up. It's good to wear washable shoes to the parade, though. Many spectators wear plastic bags over their shoes and secure them around the ankles with rubber bands.
wow
ReplyDeleteAround here there is no mention of this day or holiday.
Once again USA falls short of fabulous.
Spo:
DeleteThis was a huge surprise to us our first year in Spain.
Love these! I need a Trojan horse for the farm...
ReplyDeleteKnatolee:
DeleteYou could build a huge Trojan horse for all the horses to live in!