Corpus Christi y San Juan

We left the hotel at a time that most Americans would consider late.  That let us have Tapas and wine around 8:30 or 9, which was entirely necessary, since we split a sandwich at lunch.  When we were finishing that up and paying the check, a few of the members of our tour group saw us and said hello. They had just returned from the old part of the town by bus, where they saw the large, elaborate floats for the parade of Corpus Christi.  We have been hearing about this celebration in pretty much every place we’ve been recently, and lots of places have parades with elaborate floats.  Cas and I were not sure what to do with our evening, so we decided to check out the city bus and see what these floats look like.  For three Euro total, we went from the street next to our hotel to a main square, surrounded by buildings that were probably older than the entire city where we live.  We walked a short distance to an adjacent big square, where we saw the floats.  They were old, elaborate,  carved from wood and impossibly fancy. 

We wandered a little bit, eventually stopping to have a glass of wine and one more tapa at a table next to a large, outdoor stage.  It was clear that an orchestra was supposed to be there, given the seating arrangement on stage, the music stands, the large percussion instruments at the back and the general setup of everything.  We decided to have a seat at 10, and the woman sitting next to us was completely frustrated.  She had a British accent, and she kept going on about when the orchestra would take the stage.  If they haven’t begun yet, when can they hope to finish?  This is ridiculous.  And so on.  I was happy to sit at a sidewalk table in a beautiful square in Spain, looking a strange floats and drinking wine.  The angry woman left and someone else immediately took her spot.  The orchestra came out at 11 and started playing.  I thought they were quite good.  The lighting in the square seems to have been designed to thwart photography, but this is what they looked like: 

Not bad for a free concert we didn’t expect to see.  Between the free (and to us, impromptu) concert and the truly unusual giant wooden floats, Cas and I were both happy we took that bus.  

As we walked around being tourists and taking photos of everything, we found ourselves in good company.  I am guessing that even the folks who live here find the collection photo-worthy when it’s all on display like that.  The parade should be today, and from what I understand, it may have started already.  Tonight is apparently another part of this celebration- the festival of San Juan.  I have been reading a little, and the festival of San Juan is a celebration that happens at night, where people go to the beaches and light bonfires.  I have heard and read a few different accounts of what people do with these bonfires, but generally, it seems people jump over them.  Some sources say they have to leap over the fire three times.  Others do not specify a number.  One website says you have to make a wish when you jump.  I read one source that said jumping over the fire three times will cleanse you of all your sins.  Either way, I am not sure about jumping over a fire.  It would have to be a pretty contained blaze before I would leap, especially so far away from home. 

Photos: https://photos.app.goo.gl/pfA2563myHYwVp6U7