It's been more difficult than I expected to actually sit down and type this. How's everyone? This week I had an orange so large that peeling it made my hand hurt and coffee with a Canadian guy I follow on Twitter who happened to be in Spain. I also had an encounter with what I can only describe as a zombie cockroach and have nearly fallen asleep in 3 lectures. A mixed bag, really.
Feria feels a lifetime away now so I should crack on with writing this second part to my post. I'll continue in the gushing fashion of the last one and go on and on about how wonderful it all was :)
Feria by Day
There are a number of things to do at Feria if you go during the day, the most popular of which is to be uncomfortably hot and stand in the shade. Daytime shows the very traditional side of the festival, with horse drawn carriages parading up and down between the rows of casetas and riders slowly going past and really loving the attention.
The women on horseback were as elegant as those in the brightly coloured flamenco dresses, something about Feria just has everyone looking their absolute best. Everyone is looking at everyone else, and it's no surprise. A lot of money goes into those dresses, if ever there was a week to show off status in Sevilla it was this one. Obviously as a glorified tourist still, this was all a fun novelty for me but it is understandable that less well off Sevillanos might find it a bit tiresome or stuffy.
There were a lot of families around during the day at Feria and it was lovely seeing so many little girls, some still babies, dressed in coordinating dresses to their mothers'. Outdated, maybe, but charming and harmless.
Feria by Night
The atmosphere of Feria changes when the sun goes down. The carriages leave at 8pm and that's when the party starts, and it doesn't stop until 6 the next morning. Young people, both in traditional dress and just done up to the nines in general, come to drink the manzanilla and dance, and just have a good time. Like in Cádiz, though that was certainly a little more of a casual affair, there were very few people out of control and it was a fun atmosphere all night long.
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| manzanilla, a type of sherry, drank with sprite during Feria :) |
Sitting in a Mexican restaurant at 4am one morning we couldn't help but notice how not 'worse for wear' everyone looked, and on the bus home around the same time everyone, young and old, was civilised and orderly. Seriously, the Spanish know how to keep it together. I suppose you wouldn't want to fall over in the dust in a dress that cost upwards of €500. That's just not sensible.
There was quite a strong police presence as well, which probably helped to keep things in check. Once again, Feria felt safe and was never so crowded you'd be in real danger of losing your group. Two thumbs up.
Hasta pronto amigos x
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