Anyhoo, I was at the Royal Palace in Madrid, Spain and got some great photo's. I can see myself living in a Palace. Hee Hee.... They were very protective of what I shot, so I can only publish a few...which I have...but I'll have some great stories to share. The mojito's are good here but I think Cuba is #1 in that department. Last night I was enjoying the 'VIRGEN DEL CARMEN' Festival here in Malaga. A little history about that below:
'...It's a hot, muggy eight o'clock in mid-July in the overgrown fishing village of Rincon de la Victoria. Crowds are gathered in the tree-lined plaza in front of the church, with its typical whitewashed façade. Others line the pavement on both sides of the street, or squeeze onto their balconies. If you peer through the open door, you can just make out the white and gold-robed priest presiding over a special mass for the town's patron, the Virgen del Carmen.
At last the bells ring out, long and loud, and the traffic police blow their whistles to redirect the traffic away from the main thoroughfare. The steady stream of residents and holidaymakers turns into a river, as they pour in from their houses, from the beach and from the cafes. A brass band strikes up the national anthem, and seconds later, the velvet-robed virgin appears on a throne decked in white carnations, borne by a dozen or so barefoot men in blue and white sailor suits. Everybody cheers and claps
Then, the equivalent of a boat's coxman, gives the first of the ceremony's many rallying cries: "Viva la Virgen!" And the eager congregation, respond, "Viva!" This is repeated three times. Now, the leader moves on to everyone's favourite chorus: "Y cómo es?" And what's she like? The crowd shouts back, "Guapa, guapa y guapa" - pretty, pretty and pretty, and the cheering and clapping start again.
Led by the priest, the sailors solemnly lift the throne onto their shoulders and make their way across the main road, with the crowds either rushing on ahead or following slowly behind. To get to the beach, they must pass through the narrow streets of the fishermen's quarter, where every cottage - whether traditional whitewashed or modern red-brick - hangs large Virgen del Carmen posters from its balconies, and where most have decorative "virgin" tiles set in the walls.
When the entourage finally step out into the fading sunlight, the cheering and clapping resume, this time rippling along the packed promenade, where elderly men and women in their Sunday best rub shoulders with bikini-clad holidaymakers and excited children. They are all word perfect when a Carmen enthusiast dressed in mourning black starts off the "Viva la Virgen" chorus. And most of them know what's coming next, when the sailors go into their display of physical prowess and devotion.
First, they lift up the throne on one hand, sweat pouring down their faces, then, incredibly, they get down on their knees and shuffle along a few painful metres. More "vivas" and "guapas" and applause.
At last they turn onto the beach and take the "Reina de los Mares" (Queen of the Seas) down to the shore. In some kind of ritual baptism they push her in and let the waves wash over the throne. Then they pull her out and set about mounting the throne onto a specially-prepared boat, decked with red and white carnations.
The waves are strong and they struggle with the launch, cheered on by scores of youngsters who are already in the choppy water up to their waists. Then she's in, rockets start firing off, and the little fishing boats lead their queen on her voyage round the bay, accompanied by some of the stronger swimmers.
As the regal party fades into the horizon, and the remaining light fades, the crowds disperse. Some wander down to the virgin's shrine at the western end of the beach, but most set about the serious business of finding a table on this, one of the busiest nights of the summer. An hour or so later, when coffees are being lingered over, the traffic stops again and the bedraggled tired out sailors make their way back to the church. Feeble cries of "viva" and "guapa" still ring out, but the excitement is just about over for another year...'
I'm here in Malaga for 1 more day then we're off to Huelva, Spain. It's very hot here and THANK GAWD our hotel is on the beach! Number of reasons - the ocean for swimming and the beach for banana hammock city!! AWESOME. Well chicas es chicos...gotta jet but I'll be back for Episode III very soon....maybe with some tales of debauchery and nudeness...we'll see. :p xoxo
