September 6 - Flamenco is Here

I have to admit, before I came to Sevilla, if someone had asked me what Flamenco was, I would have said a form of Spanish dance.  I would have been about half right.  Flamenco is a style of music (usually guitar, but not exclusively) that is accompanied by singing and dancing.  It is a folk type music from southern Spain.

Today is the start of the Bienel Flamenco 2018.  Our bridge was closed and decorated for the opening ceremonies.

Even as I crossed over on my way home from school, a crowd was starting to form at the base of the bridge.

After a quick dinner at home, Albert and I walked out to check out the opening ceremonies.  Some boaters had front row seats.

First a song (live and on the big screen).

Then a flash mob of Flamenco dancing - I don't have a picture to do this justice.  Hundreds of people - men, women, boys, girls, old, young, adults, children, able bodied, wheel chaired, costumed, dressed in Sunday best, in shorts and T-shirts - all knowing the songs and movements - all dancing together.  

Another group played and then paraded across the bridge.  We headed home.  There is the official lighting ceremony at 11pm in a plaza in the center of Sevilla - but we are skipping it.

Back at home, cars were suffering along our little street after being detoured away from the closed bridge.  If they didn't know to turn off on to the small street that looks like an alley - they ended up at the corner and had to turn onto the pedestrian street for a short distance (slow ride) to get back on to a real road.  Our road is so narrow - there is no turning back....

One Made the Turn...Will the Others Follow?

Uh-Oh...Now on to the Pedestrian Street

None of these traffic adventures affected the party across the street.  Diego's Bar is back and hopping.