Monday, April 22nd, 2013
[caption id="attachment_10525" align="aligncenter" width="578" caption="Three flamencas enjoying a sunny afternoon at the Feria de Abril in Seville, which finished yesterday. The striped tents behind them are casetas, for eating, drinking and dancing."] [/caption]
[caption id="attachment_10527" align="aligncenter" width="578" caption="The Portada for this year's Feria was inspired by Plaza de España, one of ...
Posted in Fiestas, Sevilla | No Comments »
Thursday, April 18th, 2013
An integral part of the Feria de Abril, now reaching its halfway point here in Seville, is dancing. Sevillanas are a type of flamenco dance (or not, depending on who you talk to), performed in pairs - man-woman or woman-woman. Sevillanas are divided into four parts.
While it is not obligatory ...
Posted in Fiestas, Sevilla | No Comments »
Monday, April 15th, 2013
[caption id="attachment_10471" align="aligncenter" width="463" caption="Girls show off their flamenca dresses at the Feria de Sevilla - it's a colourful and (usually) sunny occasion."] [/caption]
[caption id="attachment_10469" align="aligncenter" width="578" caption="Jinetes (horse-riders) enjoying some liquid refreshment at the Feria."] [/caption]
[caption id="attachment_10467" align="aligncenter" width="578" caption="A street in the Feria, with its stripey caseta tents."] ...
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Thursday, March 14th, 2013
[caption id="attachment_10060" align="alignright" width="578" caption="Sweet-smelling orange blossom offers one of the most vivid sensory experiences in Seville's springtime."] [/caption]
Yay, my favourite season of the year is here!
The rain has stopped, finally, after weeks and weeks of endless downpours, showers, drizzle, thunder, lightning, puddles, wellies and waterproofs - and, of ...
Posted in Cordoba, Fiestas, Granada, Malaga, Nature, Sevilla, Traditions, Travel Andalucia, Weather | No Comments »
Monday, April 23rd, 2012
[caption id="attachment_2934" align="aligncenter" width="494" caption="A group of feriantes at the Feria de Abril, Sevilla."][/caption]
Tonight, at the stroke of midnight, this year's Feria de Abril kicks off officially, when the lights on the Portada (entrance arch) are switched on - the alumbrao.
For those who have never been, but would like to ...
Posted in Culture and Customs, Entertainment, Events, Flamenco, Food, gastronomy, Holidays, Music, Nightlife | 2 Comments »
Thursday, April 19th, 2012
[caption id="attachment_6020" align="aligncenter" width="523" caption="The portada - entrance arch - of this year's Feria de Abril in Sevilla, modelled on the facade of San Salvador church."][/caption]
The Feria de Abril here in Sevilla starts officially next Tuesday, with the alumbrao, the lighting up of the portada (entrance gate) at midnight on ...
Posted in Events, Flamenco | No Comments »
Thursday, May 5th, 2011
The Seville Feria is well under way now, in its third full day, and has so far escaped the rain which was forecast, which so ruined Semana Santa - although the car park I used yesterday left a layer of unsightly yellow mud on my shoes.
These are the vital statistics ...
Posted in Events | 4 Comments »
Monday, April 25th, 2011
[caption id="attachment_2818" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Paso of Cristo Varon de Dolores, seen against Saturday's stormy sky"][/caption]
Whether you enjoy it personally or not, it's hard to deny that this year's Semana Santa was a huge disappointment to audience and participators alike. Because of the rain, a record 31 out of the total ...
Posted in Events, Religion | No Comments »
Monday, September 13th, 2010
Well, it is September after all, and after the long, extremely hot summer, people come out to play again, at their local ferias. The most famous September ferias here in Andalucia are the Goyescas in Ronda, which happened earlier in the month, and the Vendimia, the grape harvest festivals which ...
Posted in Culture and Customs | No Comments »
Monday, September 6th, 2010
Sitting on straw bales, looking at sackcloth-covered walls, and watching medieval damsels and brave knights-at-arms process down narrow, cobbled streets and dine in castles is not an everyday experience. But medieval fairs are growing in popularity, and Andalucia is made for them, with its Moorish castles, ancient towns and willingness ...
Posted in Events, family, History, Travel Andalucia | No Comments »
