Olé in Andalucia, Spain

SEVILLE - APRIL 2010

Mi first time in the Madre Patria! For Michael was another visit :)
Angie, Rogelio y Hector showed us a warm welcoming in their apartment in Seville, capital of Andalucia. We are very grateful for all their kind advices to visit the city. Because of them, we were able to taste and recognize the pure extra virgin oil olive, which is part of the daily cooking of Angie:). What a delicious paella we have eaten there! Thanks a lot Angie, Rogelio and little Hector!

We arrived on time for the celebration, it was April and La Fiesta de Abril is celebrated annually during a entire week. Hundreds of people walk around the city with their colorful dresses, specially women. Of course, I dressed up a colorful or sort of flamenco dress. I had fun walking the streets so easily as if I were Spaniard among the others. Hector, looked so cute on his tiny suit called 'corto' . 

Rogelio, Angie and little Hector.

Angie and I. She got this dress for me.

Hector and I

Finally, we have reached the fair, which begins each year two weeks after Semana Santa or Eastern. The day was a little bit cloudy with a nice temperature and the colorful flamenco dresses of the women waved from side to side trough out the streets making more cheerful the day. Several picturesque boots or casetas were set up all over the fair near the banks of the Guadalquivir river, people can eat some tapas, dance flamenco or drink some wine like "La Rioja". Those casetas looked so familiar to me... mmm... I have seen them in Peru in a mini version, yes! They are the famous "Retablos" of Ayacucho, I got it! retablos de Ayachucho. They were incredible alike. No doubt Peru and Spain had a strong connection through history, customs, food, language, folkclor, architecture, etc.

Casetas - Feria de Sevilla, España

Michael at the entrance of the
"La Maestranza"

PLAZA DE TOROS, SEVILLA

In Seville there is a well known Plaza de Toros, called "La Maestranza". Getting to the oldest bullring in Spain was not easy, we booked our tickets in advance. We indeed were attracted to this bullfighting festival. Many ladies dressed up in Sevillana style, with colorful flamenco dresses, shoes with heels, fans matching with the color of their outfit, delicate parfume, so stylish. While men are dressed in 'cortos' a sort of short jacket, tight trousers and boots with a handkerchief on the chest pocket and a flat big hat. 

At the beginning wasn't easy to get used to watch how man can provoke an animal who can not defend itself the attacks... Fooling and killing the bulls was just disgusting. I should admit that I wanted to run away leaving my photography practices. I sadly teared. And yes, I did not leave. Sigh...