Here we are at the traditional April Fair that happens two weeks after Semana Santa. It is probably the biggest fair in Spain. All of these ferias date back to the middle ages when travelling merchants would camp outside the city walls for a week and allow the residents to trade for exotic items not available in the local shops - silks, spices, and craft goods. There was also a lively trade in livestock at these times. Almost all Andalucian towns have a feria and each one has it's unique flavor. The one in Jerez (that we'll go to next week) has lots of flamenco, but most just have recorded sevillanas and rumba. We went once to one that was like a disco festival - you had to look hard to find sevillanas, normally the traditional music for feria.
Here are our consuegros, Enrique and Maru in front of the entrance - (the parents of our son-in-law - we don't have an English word for that). They invited us to join them here. It is always better to go to Feria as an insider. Otherwise, you just walk around and look, but you don't get into things.
Here we are with one of Enrique's childhood friends, Alberto. He's a doctor and father of several doctors. Visiting his family was our first stop.
One of the most amazing things about all Spanish Ferias is the horse and mule scene. They have these impeccable carriages with matching horses and everyone dresses in elegant riding outfits. There were more than 500 carriages in the Feria so there has to be a thriving carriage trade and buggy whips are still being made.
And there are thousands of individual riders. This woman was so elegant that Andi had to grab a photo.
This group was particularly well-dressed, wouldn't you say?
Some really nice horses and the rider in full Spanish cowboy mode. I have an outfit like this which is appropriate to wear on the pilgrimage to Rocio, but at Feria you only dress this way if you are truly on a horse.
Almost all the women dress in flamenco dresses - that's what they call them - while the men wear sport coats and ties.
Here were a group of sweet young things dancing the sevillana to a brass band.
Here are our consuegros, Enrique and Maru in front of the entrance - (the parents of our son-in-law - we don't have an English word for that). They invited us to join them here. It is always better to go to Feria as an insider. Otherwise, you just walk around and look, but you don't get into things.
Here we are with one of Enrique's childhood friends, Alberto. He's a doctor and father of several doctors. Visiting his family was our first stop.
One of the most amazing things about all Spanish Ferias is the horse and mule scene. They have these impeccable carriages with matching horses and everyone dresses in elegant riding outfits. There were more than 500 carriages in the Feria so there has to be a thriving carriage trade and buggy whips are still being made.
And there are thousands of individual riders. This woman was so elegant that Andi had to grab a photo.
This group was particularly well-dressed, wouldn't you say?
Some really nice horses and the rider in full Spanish cowboy mode. I have an outfit like this which is appropriate to wear on the pilgrimage to Rocio, but at Feria you only dress this way if you are truly on a horse.
Almost all the women dress in flamenco dresses - that's what they call them - while the men wear sport coats and ties.
Here were a group of sweet young things dancing the sevillana to a brass band.
No comments:
Post a Comment