MANILVA CARNIVAL FRIDAY.

THURSDAY/FRIDAY 5TH./6TH.AUGUST 2010.

On Thursday morning we awoke to the sounds of fireworks, guns and the Charanga Band at full blast to mark the start of the four days of the Feria; the whole village goes mad over this period as the opening ceremony takes place in the evening, it is all broadcast on ManilvaTV live for the four days. After supper we went for a walk and ended up at Bar Rojas as we have decided not to go down to the Feria this year but watch it on the TV. As we enjoyed the balmy evening outside under the Sonbrajo two Swedish lads, over on holiday came and sat next to us, I gave them my usual welcome in Swedish and we then imparted our local knowledge to them; Marcus and Alexander were good company as we talked, in English, late into the night!

Friday morning is our shopping day to stock up for the week; in the evening for supper I made Scampi Provencale with Rice, the sauce was made in the morning when we came back from Sabinillas so it had plenty of time to mature, a very pleasant change. As we were just finishing we heard the band coming into the village, the Carnival parade had started early so we dashed up to Calle Mar outside Bar Rojas to catch the procession with all the floats as it passed along the street, all the Carnival Queens, of different ages have their own floats and had been crowned the night before down at the Feria. Each Float has its own music system and plays loud dancing music as they pass along; they throw streamers, confetti and small sweets to the crowds, the dancing animals and various characters also get everybody to join in, so a couple of the pictures are a bit out of focus as I was dancing along with them, at one stage I was covered in confetti and streamers and dancing outside Bar Rojas with all our neighbours,the Charanga band was in the middle of the parade and as the reached the top of our street they stopped and played as loud as they could as I conducted them to a climax !

The village was very busy as this was happening and all the bars did a roaring trade, but later as they all go down to the Feria ground it goes back to its old sleepy self. The picture below shows you the floats but you can’t get the sounds and atmosphere unless you are here! Come and join us!!

PS; The council workers follow the parade and clean up the mess as you can see,this morning they have finished off the job and washed down everywhere.

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