Wednesday, May 4, 2016

International Phallus Fair?

 CANARY ISLAND
BANANA CANARY.
Fuengirola's International Fair (Feria Internacional de los Pueblos) had just opened Thursday for its five-day run when we arrived home. Judyshannonstreetwhat (click here if you don't know her) came back to Spain with us. So, she, San Geraldo, and I, walked over to the fairgrounds Sunday evening where we caught up with Tynan, Elena, and their kids.

We arrived early, before the major onslaught of crowds and partiers. But you wouldn't know that from my photos. There was already quite a mob.

Being in a state of terminal adolescence, I couldn't help but notice the presence of phallic symbols everywhere I looked.

From the big 'canary yellow/banana yellow' canary-banana atop the entrance to the caseta of Spain's Canary Islands (famous for canaries and the best bananas in the world — according to me); to the undeniably phallic balloons; to every size and color of sausage on the grills; it was a noisy, crowded, smokey, happy... [juvenile's] paradise.

Interesting factoid, which makes this an educational (and not juvenile) post:
Did you know that "phallic processions" or "penis parades" were called "Phallika" in ancient Greece, and were a common feature of celebrations by the Cult of Dionysus? That's going back more than 2,000 years! The city of Tyrnavos hosts an annual phallus festival to kick off Lent. (The Greek Orthodox Church does NOT approve.)

(Click the images and make them grow... snicker, snicker, nudge, nudge...)

TOWERING ABOVE THE REST.
SMOKEY SAUSAGE ANYONE?
OR A BEER CAN?
A CLAUSTROPHOBE'S NIGHTMARE.
REMEMBER MY SAUNA EXPERIENCE? (CLICK HERE).
I TOLD JUDY TO SEE WHAT THE GUY HAD ON UNDER HIS TOWEL.
SHE PRETENDED TO DO SO (SHE'LL TALK TO ANYONE).
ANYWAY, NOTHING BUT TOWEL.
HE GOT TOO ROUGH WITH HIS...
... AND, OF COURSE, IT BROKE.
TYNAN AND JUDY LOOK ON AS A MAN WALKS BY WITH HIS IN A BABY STROLLER.
(NO BABY, BUT STILL DISTURBING.)
ABOUT TO PASS VENEZUELA ON OUR WAY TO INDIA.
THE LIGHTS COMING ON.
CASETA OF NAVARRA (NORTHERN SPAIN).
THE MUSIC WAS SO LOUD, IT POUNDED IN MY CHEST.
(I HATED THAT EVEN WHEN I WAS 20.)
AN OOM-PAH BAND... WITHOUT ANY OOMPH?
AVOIDING THE CROWDS INSIDE AS WE HEAD TO THE FRONT GATES.
TAKING HIS HOME.
(I TEND TO TUCK MINE UNDER MY ARM, TOO.)
"DON'T ASK ME," HE SHRUGS.

Ώπα (Opa)!!!

18 comments:

  1. And you guys got there 'before' the crowds?!
    Oh our adolescent minds that never seem to go away! lol .....beyond our control!
    Such a different culture, Mitchell, from 'over here', eh?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jim:
      I didn´t hear one person say, "eh," either. So sad.

      Delete
  2. Replies
    1. anne marie:
      I'm beginning to think they get way too much attention.

      Delete
  3. You sure have the most interesting adventures!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sharon:
      I'd say you two do a pretty good job yourselves!

      Delete
  4. By the look of things, you and SG landed in the right spot. ;-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wilma:
      San Geraldo, in these situations, is much more adult than I am.

      Delete
  5. Spain apparently knows how to throw a good party, phallic symbols or not (I don't think the beer can counts though)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cheapchick:
      It was the phallic symbol next to the beer can that made me think beer-can–sized...

      Delete
  6. An interesting celebration. I've seen such things in India and Cambodia, but never in Spain.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Stephen:
      The phallic thing was simply my immature interpretation. They were going for international.

      Delete
  7. "(I TEND TO TUCK MINE UNDER MY ARM, TOO.)"

    I'm sure that the Dowager Duchess taught you that it is not polite to brag ...because everyone may not have a balloon today.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Will:
      The Dowager Duchess actually taught me to never even mention it. She hasn't commented to me on this post...

      Delete
  8. It's a good thing you didn't swing and tie it around your neck in snappy bow!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ron:
      I only do that when it's really warm outside.

      Delete
  9. hahaha OMG! and I meant to tell you, I had some Canary Islands banans before we left Spain!

    ReplyDelete

Please visit www.movingwithmitchell.com if you would like to comment or stay up to date. I stopped posting here and reproduced all previous posts, as well, 25 September 2018. Thanks!!!