MANILVA VENDIMIA 2010.

WEDNESDAY 25TH.AUGUST 2010.

The weather forecast at the moment is getting hotter everyday and at night; yesterday our good friend from Chester Jane tried to get out for a quick surprise visit this weekend but could but get a flight back on Sunday so we will have to wait a little longer to see her, sorry Jane but we are keeping the “Cloudy Bay” on ice!

This week the village is getting ready for next weekend 4/5th.September as it is the 2010 Vendimia Festival; this is the big one and also the most enjoyable, the whole village celebrates the end of the grape picking over the two days. On the Saturday they hold a church service and then in the late afternoon parade the Santa Ana statue through the streets with the village brass band leading the procession; they build two stages in Calle Mar and the one in front of the town hall, at the top of our street is where they hold the competition for the largest and best bunch of grapes, in the evening the two bands perform on the stages until 3-00am and the Bars do a roaring trade all along Calle Mar which is covered by a canopy that is being erected as I type this; they also have a fine spray mist during the day which comes down from under the canopy and keeps you cool during the day as it gets very busy, noisy and village goes mad !

On the Sunday, the main day, the village starts to fill up from early morning when there are literally thousands of people come to party; all the stalls are open and the whole street and the houses and bars along it are decorated with palms and vines; the bands are playing all day and into the night and in the late afternoon there is a parade of traditional Andalusia horses and their riders from “ Pena Manilva ” In the early evening the highlight of the day is the pressing of the grapes in the winery that has been built in Calle Mar, opposite Bar Rojas,at the top of our street; in 2008 I was the first English man to do this and I am hoping that I will be the second in 2010 !

The pictures below show Francisco building the winery and I will update it every day as it goes up, also they are putting up the canopy over the next few day and I will show this as it happens – Watch this space !

Thought for the Day;

Life is short ! Forgive quickly, Kiss slowly, Love truly, Laugh often, Be grateful daily and never regret anything that made you smile !

PS; Today I have started the countdown to September the 24th,one month to go to being a pensioner !!

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