La Feria de Abril

Instead of going traveling this week, I decided to stay in Seville and soak up all of its Sevillan-ness. And what better way to do that than to check out the Feria? April Fair is everything you think of when you think of Spain. Flamenco dresses, dancing, drinking, bull fights, horse-drawn carriages, bright colors, fried fish, music... Plus fair rides, gofres and churros, casetas, and an environment you're not going to find anywhere else.

The Feria starts on Monday night at midnight with a band playing and the ceremony of "alumbrado", when the huge arch (different each year) lights up and everyone cheers and begins the festivities. We went to see the ceremony and then went to the fair to eat gofres and ride the Ferris wheel, giving us a great view.

Later in the week, I went out with Miranda, Rhianna, and some other friends to see the Feria during the day. A friend of a friend told us to come to the Communist Party's caseta (aka tent), and at first we thought they were joking... they were not. Apparently her host dad is associated with them somehow. But it was a good time and a good story to tell. They were all very nice there. We drank the traditional rebujitos which are a mix of manzanilla and Sprite. They were pretty good.

Later in the evening, we went to the Discover Excursions caseta, and that was a good time. I didn't dance, but some of my other friends did.
Another day, I went to the Feria just to take photos. I went at a time which was pretty dead, but there were still lots of horses and some people dancing!

These ladies were clapping and singing on their way to Feria. So Andalusian.