I promised photos so without further ado - please let me share some of the lovely sights of February's Carnaval in Alcala la Real (plus a couple of snaps of Pippin.)
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| Romy as tomato... looking utterly edible. |
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| In the main square waiting to start the parade around the streets. |
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| As well as fruit and veg, there were spiders... |
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| And elves...this is one of my little pupils....looks like butter wouldn't melt.... |
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| There were pizza chefs - Romy's old classmates from Alonso de Alcala primary |
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One of my students from last year - I saw lots of them and got a
good many hugs, which was lovely! |
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| There was a sparkly band... |
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| Little mice and kittens - cutest things you've ever seen. |
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| How gorgeous! |
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| Houses big and small... |
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| An amazing turn out from the disabled group - countries of the world - |
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| So much work has gone in to these costumes... |
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| And from the Residential Home, there were gnomes.... |
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| Some of them clearly had no idea what was going on, whilst other were having a great time.... |
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| And even had toadstool umbrellas! |
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| And here come the fruit and veg again.... |
No rain, plenty sunshine and a lovely - if slightly smaller than usual - parade. Not all the children came out, which was a shame for some of them. But they made a lovely cheerful sight after the rather miserable month. The main Carnaval procession is tomorrow evening. We might just pop along and have a look!
And now for a few Pippin photos.
He's difficult to capture sometimes....
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| The camera straps are a chewing opportunity... |
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| Or he whizzes past so quickly, I miss him (great tail, though!) |
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| He can get one ear up .... cute, eh? |
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| And he's a great flowerpot stealer... |
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| He'll fit his cage perfectly....SOON!! |
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| He was chewing the wheelbarrow planter...he was! |
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| And he practises being very handsome. |
And tomorrow, it's the 1st of March and Spring is on its way! I never like February much, makes me crave hibernation, but now, I feel ready for the long walks that Pippin will surely need! Just one more injection and a microchip needed.
Hope those of you who have had it up to you know where with snow and wind and rain find a little sunshine coming your way from now on.
Here's to Spring.
Hello Annie:
ReplyDeleteWhat costumes!! We are truly amazed and they all look so very professionally made. Clearly there are some very proficient and imaginative people who, obviously from all that you show, take this very seriously indeed. And the opening picture of your very own little tomato is lovely.
We are less certain about the elderly being wheeled through the streets in costume!! Could that be our fate [not yours] in not so many years?!!
As for Pippin, we should love to steal him!!
Jó hétvégét!
The main event should be this evening, Jane and Lance, when the costume makers really show how they've excelled themselves. However, right now, it's pouring with rain so I'm not sure whether it will go ahead or not....it will be such a shame if not but no one will risk ruining all their hard work in bad weather.
DeleteAs for the old folk - I like to think they are given the option! I do hope so....one or two were really enjoying themselves but how awful would it be to be dressed as a gnome an wheeled through the streets otherwise.
Pippin - having refused to go out in the rain - is now barking at the hamster. I could arrange the transport for you to steal him if you are quite sure.....
Thanks for the good weekend wishes - I listened to it on Google translate and it sounds lovely!
Axxx
Wonderful pictures capturing the festival very well, thanks for sharing, they certainly know how to put on their festivals, such a community spirit, great day for the kids. Pippin certainly is very handsome, looks full of mischief too lol. Have a great weekend xx
ReplyDeleteThe children's parade is just a taster for the 'real' thing this evening - but as I told the Hattats (above) is a horrible day today - I hope it clears before 7...
DeletePippin is almost growing before our eyes - his legs seem longer every morning and he can reach things that Darwin never even bothered to try for! Hmmmm..
Have a lovely weekend too - thanks for popping by.
Axxx
You mean that after all the effort put into that procession there is another - the main one - to follow?
ReplyDeleteI too have reservations about the participation of the elderly....this strikes me as being more about the image of the residential home than the pleasure of the participants.
Pippin is growing apace, isn't he? I know what you mean about it being difficult to get a photograph of him - I have the same problem with Monty who leaps or runs just as I have him in focus.
Yes, the main one should be this evening - if the weather improves. As for the old folks - Alcala is a 'carnaval' town - I think many of the old folks would feel very left out if they didn't take part....at least that is what I have been told! I think there is a genuine love of this particular festival and it's lovely that old and young alike take part together...but heaven help anyone trying to dress me up as a gnome and pushing me round when my time comes!!!
DeletePippin is now into everything - Darwin's short legs meant he couldn't reach much, so he didn't really try. Pippin can get everywhere - and does!!
Axxx
Your little tomato is sweet, Annie. :-) The festival looks as wonderful as ever and those costumes are truly spectacular. So much work and imagination has gone into them. Are they ever re-used?
ReplyDeleteAs for Pippin, he's just gorgeous. I particularly love his rapscallion look, with one ear pricked and the other flopping. :-)
I am very blessed, Perpetua, with a perfectly lovely tomato!! Hoping the weather clears for the main carnaval procession this evening, but it doesn't look good.....:-(
DeleteRapscallion is a perfect name for Pippin (which, with it's 'cute' overtones might not suit in a couple of weeks when he will be ENORMOUS!) Rap would be an excellent name....
Apparently if he gets the right things to chew on, this allows his jaw muscles to develop enough to give him 'ear control'....we'll see - he certainly chews on plenty!
Axxx
Super photographs of what looks like a great parade. It reminds me that that Spring is on the way. The costumes looked very professional.
ReplyDeleteIt's world book day next Thursday. Any ideas for a simple but effective costume which would be recognised by youngsters?
I love the look of Pippin, especially his ears and tail. Although it doesn't really matter, do you have any idea of his lineage? X
It was a great parade, Gaynor and it felt like Spring....but today, when it's the main one, it's pouring down....Not sure if it will happen, which would be such a shame.
DeleteWorld Book day....I suppose it depends on how young....the most obvious choice for me would be 'The Very Hungry Caterpiller' or 'Harry Potter'...not original but very obvious!
Pippin's mother was a stray but very Labrador-ish. He looks like he has some German Shepherd in him too as did one of his brothers...but there's no way of every telling! He will be big that's I can say with confidence!
Axxx
Wonderful to see that the parade involved everyone from the tiny ones right up to the oldies. The mice and kittens are adorable.
ReplyDeletePippin looks as if he has settled down well and is very much at home with you all.
The mice and kittens were just gorgeous! And it is lovely that everyone is involved, even though I hope I am never made up as gnome and pushed through the town in a wheelchair myself...
DeletePippin is very much at home and is trying to establish himself a little higher in the pecking order than the rest of my children appreciate!
Axxx
I love a parade, Annie, and this was the best. what a sweet tomato Romy is and the gnomes; perfect! I'm so happy to see Pippin, growing and into mischief as puppies are want to do, Love this.
ReplyDeleteIt was a good one, Penny - postponed from the previous Friday - and enjoyed by all! I think the big one this evening will struggle to start as it's still pouring down.....such a shame!
DeletePippin is absolutely into everything and become quite vocal about it too.....He's permanently starving hungry and desperate for anything that comes his way.
Axxx
I posted a comment but it seems to have disappeared. Here goes another try. I love the photos of the carnival, [particularly the mice and kittens. Pippin is clearly full of mischief and I know only too well what that's like). And he does bear a resemblance to my puppy Melek with the dark face.
ReplyDeleteI put a comment moderator on for comments over a couple of days so that I don't miss any, Ayak. I found all yours but have only published the second two to avoid duplication. Thanks for all you say - and yes, Pippin is rather like Melek, isn't he? He's been quite awful today! Very disobedient, hyper and incredibly 'bitey' - I'm trying to keep calm and not let him get the better of me but am wondering if he's eaten something that's made him like this! He's jumpy and twitchy and can't keep still... Hope he feels a bit better tomorrow - he's not been out as much because it's horrid and he doesn't like the wind. Axxx
DeleteOh and on the first comment which disappeared I did say how gorgeous I think Pippin is, but forgot to mention on my 2nd :-)
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, he's twitchy, jumpy and still gorgeous! Axxx
DeleteMainland Europe really know to celebrate , I love their festas and carnivals :-)
ReplyDeleteThey do, Anne, but they always try to do it when the weather is still a bit iffy....this year, the event had to be held in the big covered arena with no parade along the street as Saturday was the filthiest, rainiest, windiest day we've had in ages! Axxx
DeleteThat parade is a wonderful tradition, I do hope it continues and thrives, complete with cute tomatoes of course ;)
ReplyDeleteAs for that pup ... delightful, especially the whole puppy ears thing! If you can come by some antler for him to chew - you can buy it in pet shops here now although I get mine from my park ranger friend - that might divert him from your possessions ... my lot certainly preferred it to anything else as pups x
I can't see the locals stopping their carnaval, Annie! A lovely splash of colour every year - though this year it was mainly just splashes...
DeleteI shall look out for antler...though I don't have park ranger friend, who sounds very useful, I must say - it took me an age to hang the washing out and when I looked back, he was hanging from a sleeve and swaying in the breeze. Sigh. And he jumped in the mud-filled trench - twice - the second time after I'd bathed him. And he made a hole in my pyjama leg and ate my new azalea......but he's becoming part of the family!
Axxx
Romy looks so wonderful, and I am so sorry it has taken me this long to get my act together to start looking through blogs again ! I have missed so much. It will take weeks to read what everyone has been up to......never mind, it is a lovely activity, just wallowing in what has been going on around the world....Turkey, Costa Rica, Illinois, France, Australia ,various UK spots.....and Alcala, of course. The costumes look wonderful and Pippin is just a darling. I trust the rest of the troupe are well and enjoying watching Pippin settle in. Jxxxxx
ReplyDeleteNo apologies necessary, Janice! Lovely to have you back in the world of bloggers though. It must be almost like coming home and seeing the children and grandchildren again - catching up with what's going on in blogworld!
DeleteCarnaval was all but washed out but now we have absolutely fantastic weather, just a week later....feels like we've gone from winter to summer in five days.
All well and Pippin has a few words to describe him...darling isn't one just yet!
Axxx