It's been awhile since Spain shocked the world... well maybe not shocked as they were favored to win. But anyway, THEY WON! And we were there. So you know (this is for the few remaining Blazer fans out there) when you decide to give the Blazers another chance, it's like going back to an abusive relationship. You know you're gonna get hurt, but you go back anyway. And they start to play well and win; then all of a sudden you start rationalizing their chances. They could beat Houston, but... well you know the horrifying ending. [BTW, a giant one finger salute to Paul Allen. Really? Bob Whitsit was a total jerk and goodbye, but Kevin Pritchard? Good Lord Paul, do you just love to be a screw up? Huge mistake, and all those Blazers you love, well get ready to watch them pack.]
Ah yes, back to reality. Thankfully, the World Cup final was nothing like that. We watched the game on three big tvs in the main plaza of Castillo with every other resident of the town, and when the winning goal was scored... well imagine a whole town exploding. Complete and utter elation beyond description. People running through the streets; Spanish flags waving; people singing; making instant friends. I have a clear picture of Diego running and shouting at the same time with his hands in the air, fists. And then completely disappearing into an impossibly huge crowd, only to emerge minutes later with a sweaty smile of victory on his face. Unbelievably fun.
On one of the following days, we drove a short distance to a small waterfall on the Rio de San Juan (a small river that the Cortijo Vadillo springs feed into) and went for a swim in a truly idylic swimming hole... and I've been to lots. At this one, you can jump off a cliff into a waterfall and the river shoots you down into an easy get out point. The boys jumped in too from a lower spot and were easily able to swim to the shore. Totally sweet.
This last weekend brought the Etno Sur festival to the small city of Alcala la Real. Etno Sur is a world music festival held in the south of Spain and every year it's theme is different; this year, it was Cuban music. For three days, the town of Alcala is completely overrun with thousands of visitors from all over Europe looking to have a good time. There's music, a circus, food, merch, workshops and lots of partying on the street (all day and all night).
On Friday night, we took the boys to a circus with acrobats, a trapeze act, and a quick change couple. We scored front row seats right next to the circus ring and had a fantastic time. On Saturday night, the grownups stayed out til morning watching bands on the mainstage. A polio victim band from Africa and a Cuban 12 piece headliner, followed by a DJ. Somehow, we talked our way into the VIP bar backstage and got to rub elbows with the cast and crew of the event.
The small park and bar near Cortijo Vadillo is called Nacimiento and it was a campground during the festival. We spent much time here talking to the dreadlocked and definitely not-shy people. There were also sound stystems set up in the farmers' fields with loud techno music and little bars to go with them. Quite a festival. The amount of trash generated was enormous, but each morning, workers from Alcala came right in to clean it up, and it appeared as if nothing had happened (except for a couple passed out people still crashed out on the street).
I will tell you this: the Spanish really know how to party!
"well imagine a whole town exploding. Complete and utter elation beyond description. People running through the streets; Spanish flags waving; people singing; making instant friends. I have a clear picture of Diego running and shouting at the same time with his hands in the air, fists. And then completely disappearing into an impossibly huge crowd, only to emerge minutes later with a sweaty smile of victory on his face. Unbelievably fun."
ReplyDeleteThat's kinda how it felt on November 4th 2008 when I was playing my first and only gig with the Extra-Action Marching Band (http://www.extra-action.com) at an Obama election results party in West Oakland. When the TV news declared Obama the winner of the election, all 300 of the partyers and the 30 of us X-Tra Action-ers began to scream and yell, laugh and cry, hug strangers, run around the street spilling beers n tears, climb things, throw things, drink things, yell things, hit things (our drums), share things and generally freak out as we said good riddance to the Bush-inator with the hope that a new day was dawning (forgetting that Obama's still just a guy, better than some, but not perfect for all people, etc).
Anyway, glad to see that the Moylans are taking advantage of the unique situation you've put yourselves in.