I haven't slept well. Our group didn't have a dress rehearsal as the men's costumes weren't ready until two days ago. I am to collect the sleeves for my dress today. The carnival drink - Cuerva however has been prepared.Each group/bar/hotel/restaurant has their own secret recipe. It's basically a punch consisting of wine, fruit juice and various liquors. Our Pena (group), has a large black dustbin full to the brim with it, ensconced in the large subterranean garage where we have been practising our routine.
My husband and I set off yet again for the back room of the dressmakers where the make-up is to be applied. The dressmaker and her daughter do us in batches of four. I look at my husband, his face is now half white.
Looking at me, the others all exclaim, "!Que guapa!" - "How beautiful!" The husband smiles wanly. In the mirror I see that I resemble an ageing tart. Doubtless it will be better under the arc lights.
I pass the afternoon in a state of nervous apprehension. I try to forget that this morning we saw the two main streets lined by literally thousands seats. I've never even set foot on a stage in front of a small audience.
At five p.m. we go into Aguilas. We park some distance away as many of the streets are closed. The traffic on the outskirts is frenetic. Once in Aguilas the bars are packed, odd groups of people wander about in coats, with feathers and costumes poking out from underneath, crowds of excited people are laughing, shouting and looking for their seats. police cars and ambulances are stationed at strategic places. Itinerant vendors are selling popcorn, sweets, balloons etc.
We enter the subterranean garage where we are to change. I'm feeling sick with nerves. We can hear the carnival starting up in the street just outside. The music from Swan Lake blasts through the walls down to us in our dimly lit garage. I'm sure that underneath the make-up my face is as white as my husband's face has been painted. We get changed into our costumes. I turn to the husband.
"Is my hair OK?"
"Yes, it's lovely."
"Is my hat OK?"
"Yes, it looks great."
"Is my dress on OK?"
"Yes, it looks fantastic."
The husband is getting a lot of credit points, but I still feel as if I'm facing the worst examination of my life. At six p.m.at some hidden signal, everyone starts to go up the slope and out of the garage.
The noise in the streets physically vibrates through us as it blasts out from the different groups enormous speakers. With the others I fight my way in a boat sized skirt through the crowds at the back of the tiered seats. We wait in a back street where all the groups are starting off.
We watch incredibly glamorous women performing perfectly choreographed numbers.
We wait... We smile at tiny children as young as 18 months in full costume on floats.
We wait...We laugh at young men doing satirical numbers or amusingly choreographed routines.
Quite what was happening here I have no idea!
We wait... Night is falling and it is getting chilly. We wait over two hours. I'm no longer nervous, I just want to get on with it. Finally after waiting in Aguilas for three hours, having had our make up applied at eleven a.m., and after three months of meetings, fund raising lunches, rehearsals and fittings it's OUR TURN. I can at last reveal that we are dressed in costume for, The Phantom of the Opera and dancing to the opening music.
Here we are in full fling!
It's not like a TV reality show. It doesn't all miraculously come right, but that doesn't seem to matter. Thousands of people smile and applaud, clap in time to the music and shout "Bravo!" As night falls our costumes shimmer and shine in the arc lights, in beautiful whirling blurs as we twirl and curtsy and dance.We are not the youngest or sexiest group taking part in the carnival, but every woman looks glamorous and elegant. At last after four kilometres of dancing we reach the port and the end of our first procession. The husband had been, (as always), right - it was "AN EXPERIENCE."
I've placed a few photos below of some of the other people taking part in the carnival
Some entrants attracted more attention than others.
The floats of dinosaurs were particularly spectacular.
We did the whole thing on another three nights. I strained my knee and my husband is in bed with flu. Was it worth it? - Yes. Would we do it again?? You must be joking!!
We didn't get to see much of the processions so the photos have been kindly supplied by John Wismer, from Michigan, USA, who I've been lucky enough to meet along with his wife Colette through the course of this blog. It's possible to see a video of the entire carnival on U Tube if you'd like to see more.
If you want to come and experience for yourself the colours, noise, and excitement, then carnival happens every year, six weeks before Easter. Details can be obtained from the Aguilas Tourist board, Murcia, Spain.
Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed this account of our experiences. The next blog should be posted at the beginning of April. If you have any comments please send them to myself at: writerinaguilas@gmail.com
Gracias por leer este blog. El proximo estara a los principios de abril.
Saludos/Best Wishes, Cathy
