Friday, February 28, 2025
This final day of the month begged for me to clean up my appearance on the first day of Gijón's Carnival weekend, also known as Xixón Antroxu 2025.
Thus, I headed to see David at the
Peluqueria Friends
This bare bones barbershop, with David as both the sole proprietor and the lone barber, is located in a grittier working class neighborhood about 3/4 of a mile west of the apartment.
Friends attracts ne'er-do-wells such as myself for the witty repartee that can only be found in a men's barbershop in any country on the face of the earth.
David is one of those men gifted with a knowledge, to at least a small degree, on any topic that comes up with his clientele.
Or perhaps he just makes it up as he goes along, it doesn't really matter as he works to just keep the conversation moving along without a fist fight breaking out.
That brawl is only a potential threat when the subject turns to soccer and the Gijón Sporting-Real Oviedo rivalry comes up or, perhaps, if someone blurts out that Real Madrid has a way better team this year than FC Barcelona despite their currently being tied for first place in La Liga.
I find that David is also someone who embraces his community with an open door policy and empathy.
While waiting my turn today for a haircut and beard trim, David worked on an older man named Esteban.
As it turns out, Esteban is a man living beyond the means of his monthly pension check. The conversation affirmed that he likes to spend money on alcohol and women. He wastes the rest of his income on frivolous items.
David completely understood about Esteban's circumstances and agreed to let him pay for this haircut on the 15th of March when his next paycheck arrives.
While trimming my dome back to health, another character walked into Friends by the name of Carlos. He added to our talks about sports, American gun laws and the differences between rugby and American football.
When Carlos left, David informed me that Carlos is an old friend who drops in regularly to visit but is suffering from bouts of schizophrenia. When Carlos is on his meds, as apparently he was today, he is a delightful chap.
When he is off his meds, well, that's when the Friends family steps in to help.
I really like David and the Friend's family that I'm meeting each time I come in for a trimming.
It is INDEED the first day of
Xixón Antroxu 2025!
This blue Storm Trooper walking his dog confirmed it.
Two short Spanish women talking
on the sidewalk is a common sight
I tried a new spot for lunch today
ordering the Daily Menu Special
Pote Asturiano
Pote is a stew with four meat cuts, collard greens, potatoes and beans.
Delicious!
The Daily Menu also included that bottle of sparkling water, the entire bottle of red wine and the bread.
Picadillo and Fried Potatoes
Picadillo is ground up, spicy chorizo.
Throw in an excellent slice of cinnamon French Toast for dessert followed by a cafe cortado and I was pretty much done eating for the day.
The total cost of my meal was a mere 20.30 Euros.
I have got to try properly pouring Sidra
at least once before I leave Asturias
It seems to me that anytime one gets
a tattoo there is a Good Story involved
I wonder if she got one today?
Damn these bakery display windows!
At 7:00 p.m., Xixón Antroxu 2025
officially kicked off with a parade
Now, one thing that David and Carlos warned me about Carnival in Gijón is that it is definitely not an organized display of scantily clad, busty women parading their charms down the street.
They did mention that the club life this weekend is where women of this bent could be found in all their cutaneous glory.
I headed to the Begoña district and its Teatro Jovellanos where a parade featuring drum corps and their dance teams were assembling before their half hour marches to the Plaza Mayor.
Antroxu Xixón sign awaiting
darkness to be lit up . . .
. . . same with these in Jardines de Begoña
Antroxu mean costumes of
varying degrees like "hers"
A mini-carousel in this setting
was a good idea
So was this mini-Ferris Wheel
The multi-colored drum lines were
amassing in front of the Teatro Jovellanos
The Medusa?
Fortunately for me, she was looking the other way, so I averted my eyes from her potential harm.
Where did that whale come from?
Great Scottish Tartan Beret
on the man in the middle
The Blue Corps was braided
and ready to march
Lots of resplendent hair
colors were on view
A family getting into the
Antroxu Spirit
This attractive old movie palace, the
Teatro Arango, is now a Burger King
Time and progress march on . . .
. . . as finally did our much
anticipated parade
The Black Squad led the way
with well dressed female dancers
I loved their neon pink drumstick hoods
GREAT HAIR!
It's real, right?
Here comes the Orange Saints
The dancers sported white halos . . .
. . . while the musicians wore black ones
I decided to walk at a faster pace than the drum corps to the end spot of this rather loud procession, the Plaza Mayor, to get a good spot to see the finish of the festivities.
See you all again in a bit
The Ayuntamiento/City Hall was
lit up and ready for the approaching crowd
The Orange Saints came marching in . . .
They were still full of pep to be sure!
"The whole rhythm section was
the Purple Gang . . ."
Marching for the Ukraine?
Glow Sticks and Drums,
PERFECT!
LET'S ROCK!
Who is that on the
Ayuntamiento's balcony?
It was the Sardine
The Sardine is the symbol of Antroxu who will "die" and be "buried" on Tuesday night as a sign of the imminent start of Lent the next day on Ash Wednesday.
It was a fun way to start the weekend but afterwards I opted to curtail my clubbing plans for another night and head home.
Wait, isn't that Notre Dame's
Fighting Leprechaun?
If it is, he is now moonlighting as a Fighting Moor on this varsity jacket on display at a skateboard shop.
Stones Against Bullets?
Let the Weekend Begin!
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