A little warmth...

A most welcome feeling has crept in over the past few days - a little warmth in the air. Instead of single figures of degrees (centigrade) we've moved into double. And we've really noticed the difference.


And the weather improved in time for Carnaval. This time last year, it snowed on the day the children were supposed to parade and in the end, only the adults braved the cold the following day - captured by me a whole year ago!

Proud Roman

As Romy and her classmates were to be togged out in togas, I was pleased that the sun felt warm and the icy conditions of past weeks seemed behind us - there would have been some frozen, real-life Roman statues otherwise.

Conquering Crusader

 
But with several underlayers,both Ruy and Romy set off to school as members of some of the many civilisations that have invaded and influenced Andalucia. Each school in the town picks different themes and I was pleased Alonso de Alcala chose one that had some historical relevance - and practical and economical too - the children can wear the same costumes on Andalucia Day later on in the year. The effects of 'el crisis' - or a little sense prevailing at last?




 
And on the parade through the town later in the morning, in the same school, we saw many other visitors to the area - welcomed and otherwise!

Friends, Romans and Countrymen..

Los Moros

More Moros, followed by the Christians ..and a stray trogolodyte!

Some beautiful Christian maidens in stunning costumes

Protected by handsome knights

Marauding Visigoths

The Romans - posing for a quick sculture

And these are Greeks, not Romans...

The Band got to wear whatever they wanted!

Well done Alcala la Real - well done Alonso de Alcala!

Dia de los Padres

Parent's evening at our children's school was a bit different from that in England. It wasn't a quiet chat about the progress and attitude of our children. It was a celebration for everyone with dancing and fun.

It started at about 8pm and went on for more than 2 hours - and meant that we didn't get to the Cherry Festival in Castillo de Locubin yesterday; we'll just have to go this evening instead - and was a wonderful, colourful, happy event and I got some lovely pictures.

Romy's class were 'El Fantasma Comeletras' - the ghost that eats letters, which I think is based on a song but I can't find any reference to it anywhere - and they did lots of ghoulish dancing.

I think Romy enjoyed it very much!

She's on the left with her hair swinging along.

Here she's followed by her friend at school and the one who invited her to join karate - Ismael.

And Ruy's year - there are three classes - were dancing the Cha Cha Cha and had a great time!


I like these photos because there are several of my English students here as well. Like Clara, the happy girl at the end of the line on the left of the photo.

And watching on, there's Pablo, looking like a little Roman cherub (ha!), and to the right, Paula and Maria - excellent students.

A colourful display. Lots of proud parents and grandparents watching on.

Cha cha cha!

And then there was the bouncy castle slide and five-a-side 'table' football games to play.

 It was a lovely parent's day.

Carnaval in Alcala la Real

Today, Saturday, it's Carnaval in Alcala - we've had our first taste of how the people here love to dress up and enjoy themselves. It's been great fun! I don't think I have a clear shot of any of it - which only adds to the sense of movement and vitality of what was going on around us.
This isn't the school parade, this is the whole town parade, where various groups get together and chose a theme for their costumes. We missed out on when all of this was decided but in the end, we got to see everyone from our vantage point(s)!

The town band - Pharoahs?

Some of Ruy's classmates

More of Ruy's classmates

The Pitufos or Smurfs!

No idea what this group but they were WILD!

The Wine Connoisseurs

Start 'em young!

Ants

The Corpse Brides

Not sure but they had wonderful costumes

in all sizes!

and amazing shoes too.

Hilarious 'piggy back a pensioner' mob!

Los incredibles

My personal favourites - the mops.

The gymnasts

Whizzed past a bit fast

but I caught them as they posed.

The view from our balcony was fantastic

but can't quite capture the atmosphere.. or the noise!

Oh, look, more mops!

What a fantastic evening! And the children should be able to parade on Monday too!

The best laid plans...

See this?

 Snow. Snow outside our window. It's snowing here today in Alcala la Real. And today is Carnaval Day! Or it was supposed to be...

Serious ladybird

The children got up and dressed in their attire this morning. It was overcast but not raining. We had forebodings that all would not go to plan though. But they looked gorgeous anyway.

Testing the wings

Ready to fly

Serious soldier - from Lilliput, remember

Draw swords

By the time the parade was due to start, thick rain was falling. It wasn't quite snow but it was definitely thicker than just water! And no children emerged from the school gates, though a few game parents were waiting for them there. Some gamer than us - we were sitting in the car (having been to look at yet another house we didn't want to buy).

The weather didn't improve - indeed, it got worse!

Never mind, we'll see what Monday brings, though I feel it won't be quite the same dressing up for a second time....