Fiesta in Breña Baja

Rather confusingly, the main fiesta in San José (the capital of Breña Baja) isn’t St Joseph’s Day, it’s the feast of Santiago and Santana (St James and St Anne) on the 25th and 26th of July, respectively. Since we’ve just had the bajada, the fiesta is a much quieter affair than usual. They just did the religious part: a special mass, a procession, and a loa. So what’s a loa,…

July 27, 2010
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The Dancing Dwarfs

July 17, 2010

I’m annoyed. The tickets for the dwafs were 21.35€ each, and I had to jump through hoops to get them. When they went on sale, the website sagged to its knees under the strain of so many customers at once, so it took about 10 attempts before I was able to buy them. And then they emeailed me instructions on how to collect the tickets which were less than clear….

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Pandorgas

July 13, 2010

Last night’s pandorgas were lovely, but tiring. I had to park well south of town and walk in. On the way, I fell in with someone I know, and took some photos of her gorgeous little niece. I was so late I began to worry that I’d missed the whole thing, but when I eventually I found the parade, it wasn’t even halfway along its route. The lead pandorga was…

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La Palma’s Bajada Programme for Tuesday and Wednesday

Pandorgas, Santa Cruz de la Palma, 2010
July 13, 2010

Last night’s pandorgas were beautiful. And he first one in the procession was the world cup, which got a tremendous cheer. Tuesday 13th 10 am – 2 pm The usual sporting stuff in the sports ground. 12 noon. All the church bells will ring at once. 12:15 Special concert by the municipal band in the Casas Consistoriales de Santa Cruz de La Palma. 5 pm Dance of the gargoyles going…

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Bajada activities, Tuesday – Friday

SPORT Children’s sport in the sport area, just outside the port of Santa Cruz, Tues, Wed, and Fri from 10 am – 2 pm Canoeing in the port, 9 am Thurs and Fri Aerobics in the Plaza España, 9 am Thurs and Fri Basketball in the sport area, just outside the port of Santa Cruz, 9 am Thurs and Fri Skatingin the sea front car park, 9 am Thurs and…

July 5, 2010
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Moving the Throne

The main event on Sunday was the huge procession to bring the Virgin’s throne down from Las Nieves to Santa Cruz de la Palma. The throne comes apart into perhaps twenty pieces, each mad of wood, covered with silver. It’s a great honour to carry one, but some of the sections look like they weigh a ton. Last time I went to the bajada del trono it was baking hot….

July 5, 2010
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