Spain celebrates Carnival in the week before the season of Lent. I always say people are making sure they have something really juicy to repent, but these days most people just regard it as a darn good excuse for a party. The funfair’s already here, and the main programme starts on Friday. Friday, 20th February 6 pm. Opening ParadeChildren from the schools and nurseries will parade from the Plaza de…
These days, Santa Cruz de la Palma is a bit of a backwater. But three hundred years ago, it was the third biggest port in the Spanish Empire. In the 19th century, it was still a major port, and many of the inhabitants waited anxiously for a ship bringing their merchandise, letters from family members who’d emigrated to Cuba or Venezuela, or the loved ones themselves, as passengers or crew….
The Spanish celebrate New Year in a big way. A lot of people wear evening dress – the the sort of thing I associate with Glyndebourne Opera. I’ve usually gone to a big family party, but this year we went to see Santa Cruz. At midnight, they have fireworks. (To be honest, this year it wasn’t as good as usual. I think the town hall are worried about money just…
I’m getting a little more organised. Over the weekend I managed to get the last of the Christmas cards in the post and to cook industrial quantities of lentils and chicken stew, so I’ve got ready meals in the freezer. Last night I managed to get to yoga. Only three students turned up, so the teacher asked what we wanted to do. I said, “Relaxation,” since my head was buzzing…
Santa Cruz hosts a tuning car show this evening and tomorrow afternoon. Tonight (Friday) starting at 5pm, is kids’ day, with bouncy castles, and a circuit for mini-motors and quads. Later on there will be an open-air dance (verbena) with live music from the group Mayeya. Tomorrow (Saturday), from midday until eleven pm, is the main show for adults. There will be prizes awarded in twenty-four categories (oldest, cleanest, best…
From 20th June to 19th July, 2008Casa Principal de Salazar, O’Daly 22, Santa Cruz de la PalmaOpen Mon-Fri, 10 am to 1 pm and 5 pm to 8 pmSaturdays from 10 am to 2 pm. You know, I think “Mountains” is a mistake in translation, because the exhibition is about forests (and “monte” can mean either forest or mountain side.) I don’t care. It’s a fun exhibition. My son enjoyed…