Tuesday, 17 February, 2015:
David Lassen once commented that he knows that I'm having a good day abroad if I don't take the time to blog for a day or two.
He was right yet again!
Late's take a belated look at this week's Travel Tuesday.
Up and at 'em at a reasonable hour for the one hour and 50 minute, 4.75 Euros train ride southwest of Murcia to the Mediterranean seaport village of Águilas
Why you ask?
CARNAVAL!!!
It was Mardi Gras
Literally French for Fat Tuesday, the last day to enjoy and cut loose before Ash Wednesday, the official start of the austere Lenten season.
As usual, the Tourist Information (TI) Center was nowhere near the train station but the Station Master gave good directions on how to get close to it in the center of this small town where signs would easily guide me the rest of the way.
Along the walk, I saw . . .
A Colorful Pharmacy
A nice beach
It was a chilly, overcast day with gusting winds, not a beach day at all.
And perhaps not a Carnaval day either if it were raining hard at the 6:00 p.m. start of the anticipated four to five hour Carnaval Parade.
After all, Águilas IS
Spanish for Eagle
Hair Salon as Art
Locomotive
This is a model Mogul 1-3-0 built in Glasgow, Scotland in 1889. It was used on the rail lines of Águilas from 1890 to 1967. It weighs 82 tons and, in its day, could go 85 km/hour.
The Upper Crust's Meeting Hall
Casino Entrance Hall
Casino Entrance Ceiling
This should be a fun night
Moorish City Hall
Great Style
Love the blue accents
I got a lot of help from a nice woman at the TI about this small town.
How small is Águilas? It is so small that it does not even have an El Corte Inglés!
It was a long time until the start of the Parade, so I opted to walk along the beach front Malecon to check into my hotel.
Nice Circles
Beach Front Patterns
Beachcomber
Kids, I want you to all
follow the man with the pink hair
I like beaches in Winter
Joe Mollica was here?
After a 20 minute walk, I arrived
View from Room 419
Once I'd relaxed for a bit in this Four Star beach resort hotel, I opted to walk back to the town center for more exploring and, surprisingly, some food before the Parade started.
Cool Sun Dial
First stop . . .
A Snack of
Patatas Bravas and a Caña
The view from Section 2,
First Row, Seat 40
For a mere 10 Euros, I purchased a reserved seat for the Parade with one negative provision. If weather cancelled the Parade, I would not be refunded.
More exploring was necessary because nothing was open.
Only restaurants/bars and the ever-present, Chinese run, Mom and Pop markets were doing business as apparently most of the town just shuts down during Carnaval.
No Idea
This unmarked monument sits atop of a hill with commanding views of the city but it is not mentioned on the map that I received at the TI.
Beautiful Old Wind Mill
Lunch Stop
It had a good mix of food choices
and some interesting locals
All food and drink places
were into the Carnaval Spirit
THE adult beverage of Carnaval
I went with the more traditional caña.
Ancient Millstone
Churros and Chocolate?
When in Rome . . .
Donde esta la . . .
. . . never mind, there it is
Peacock?
Monumento al Carnaval
Got wings?
OLD building off of the
Plaza de España
Águilas City Crest
Candy Apple Red
It's not just a color for '57 T-Birds.
I did not eat any of them, I was strong!
About an hour before the start of the Parade, the intermittent drizzles changed into a steady downpour.
Would the Parade be cancelled? Would I lose my 10 Euros investment in a front row seat?
NO!
The rain abated at about 5:30 p.m. and the show would indeed go on!
I was entrenched in my Front Row seat, ready to be entertained.
The Carnaval Parade
So what was this Carnaval Parade like?
If you ask me, it was equal parts . . .
Las Vegas Revue . . .
Rose Parade . . .
Child Beauty Pageant . . .
Doo Dah Parade . . .
and Gay Rights Parade
Parade Action, Part I
El Tangay Float
Blue Eagle
Medusa
One Man Float
White Eagle
Queen for a Day
All ages were in the Parade,
the mature . . .
. . . the young . . .
. . . and the really young
Parade Action, Part II
Mom resting
Moms and Dads also volunteer to walk the Parade route with water bottles for the relief of the participants and to aid with any wardrobe malfunctions that may occur along the way with the elaborate costumes.
Blue Man Group?
Four Eyes
Not to worry, apparently they lose their upper eyes as they mature and their brains swell out of their proper craniums.
Colorful Hipsters
Graceful Doña
Laurie's new Husky game day outfit?
Peacock strutting
Parade Action. Part III
Flamboyant
Yes, I have GREAT balance
These shoes were part of a
Freddie Mercury outfit
GUAPA!!!
The Mask
Now this group of dancing, interestingly costumed men appeared to be having the time of their collective lives in my opinion.
WOW!!!
She's having fun too!
Feathers were everywhere!
Parade Action, Part IV
Happy to be ALIVE!
Chin Out
Adjusting the Head Piece
Twirling
Aloof
Doo Dah time . . .
Ala the old Lloyd Thaxton TV show, these Mounties' "faces" were painted on the performers bellies.
The Mounties had Indian maidens too!
So, it turns out that Águilas is where the old
Stanford Indian mascot was retired
Parade Action, Part V
Another nice smile with . . .
Exotic moves
I LOVE A PARADE!
Me too!
The Closing Act was . . .
unusual shall we say
The Parade was over in a speedier than anticipated three hours. I do not know if they walked faster tonight or had groups opt out due to the wet streets and the potential for costume damaging rains.
Either way, I was cold and damp and while thoroughly entertained, I was ready for warmth so I walked back to the hotel to call it a fun filled night.
Of course, a snack and vino tinto at the hotel before bed was a good idea I thought.
To sum up, if you are in Spain during the Águilas Carnaval Season, it would be well worth your while to catch one of their Parades.
Reading Is FUNdamental
When done, I felt a bit mystical
More days . . .
No comments:
Post a Comment