La Vida Alcalaína

The nine-day San Fermin festival ends today, and the world´s media is once again aghast at the number of people (mainly foreigners) gored and trampled during the infamous 8 a.m. bull runs through the streets of Pamplona . Three people gored during Pamplona bull run (The Independent) Australian gored at Spain bull run in 'very serious' condition  (Reuters) Pamplona bull-running festival ends after 50 sent to hospital  (Fox News) Horror at Pamplona: Video shows the shocking moment bulls crash into a wall of people crushing dozens of spectators  (Daily Mail) The question they are all asking is why, in the 21st century with all its health and safety regulations and increasing concern for animal welfare, is this event still allowed to take place?  I can't begin to answer that, but none of the runners take part without knowing the risks, and (unlike the bulls) they have chosen to do it. Some of these same newspapers are equally horrified at idea of their pers...

This year has seen the adoption of two new hijos predilectos (favourite sons) by the town of Alcalá de los Gazules - one long dead and one very much alive. The former is Diego Ángel de Viera , the priest who gave up his worldly goods to set up the charitable institution known as the Beaterio  in 1788.  There are various  actos de homenage  at the Beaterio throughout the year, including a musical evening on 6 July and an exhibition on 9-11 August. The latter is the prolific artist, sculptor and writer  Jesús Cuesta Arana , who lives and works in the town and is very much a part of its cultural character. His wife Isabel taught for many years at the local secondary school, and they have recently become grandparents.  Cuesta Arana has been described as a modern-day "Renaissance man".  Ever on a quest for new projects, he has recently taken up jewellery designing and engraving. Cuesta Arana's paintings are full of life and colour, magic and myst...

Zahara de la Sierra Last Sunday we visited Zahara de la Sierra, a  pueblo blanco in the Sierra de Grazelema, the mountainous northern part of the Province of Cádiz.  We went with members of El Pavo Trotón , a group based in Alcalá which organises regular excursions.  The journey took about an hour and a half, passing through some stunning scenery. Our trip coincided with the religious festival of Corpus Christi .  Zahara's celebrations, which originated in the 15th century, are famed throughout Spain and have been declared a Fiesta de Interés Turístico Nacional .  The locals get up early to harvest esparto grass, rushes and oleander from the surrounding countryside, and use them to line the narrow streets and alleyways, which are then decorated with flowers, and embroidered sheets are hung from the first-floor windows. Church of Santa Maria de la Mesa At 11 a.m. there is a Mass in the church, and then the symbolic body of Christ is borne b...

Viper's bugloss This very English proverb has certainly held good in our part of the world this year.  In fact our April showers continued well into May, breaking yet another climatic record as we reach the end of the wettest and coolest May since whenever. By now, we are normally enjoying daytime temperatures in the mid to high twenties (high 70s in Fahrenheit), but it remains pleasantly cool at around 22ºC (71ºF), with the odd shower of rain. Our spring flowers are always a delight, daubing the winter-green meadows with vivid blotches of colour before they turn summer-brown.  With all the extra spring rain, however, they have put on a spectacular show this year that is set to last for a good few weeks yet.  Here are some examples, all taken this week, to tempt you to come over and see for yourself! For detailed information on the local flora, check out Brenda Jones' excellent blog Flowers of Andalucia .

Some wonderful aerial shots of the town and surrounding countryside, taken by our neighbour Javier Sánchez. If you fancy repeating the experience in real life, Aerosidonia, a company based at the little aerodrome near Medina Sidonia, offer  30-minute flights for around 90 euros .  Tel. 606 97 71 64 / 654 50 84 39.   Sanctuario de Nuestra Señora de los Santos

This video of the parade is a million times better than mine - thank you Wenceslao Perales!

Some of the highlights from this year's Carnaval in Alcalá de los Gazules, three days of fun and frolics on the streets, in the bars and in the grand marquee. Sunday's Pasacalles de humor (fancy dress parade): Cuarteto; "No to er mundo puede vivir en la Calle Real" Chirigota C.A.I. "Los que viven en el cuarto" Thanks to photographer Chemary Gomez Reyes for the following. You can subscribe to his YouTube channel CHEMARYALCALA for lots more videos of this year's Carnaval and other events in Alcalá de los Gazules.