We saw 2 or 3 in Murcia, and 1 or 2 in both Córdoba and Sevilla. We actually only sought one out to watch (the one we saw in Murcia on the night of Palm Sunday) - all of the others we just kind of came upon while walking around. It's hard to find your way out of the crowds of people once you come up on a procession. It's kind of rude to walk through it, but some of the pathways are several kilometers long, so it can take a while to find your way around it. An added wrinkle is when you're in a foreign city navigating through tiny, narrow streets that start and stop like in "Alice in Wonderland."
The first procession we saw in Murcia brought a lot of questions to our minds. Luckily, we were on our way to dinner with my friend Agustín, who was kind enough to explain things to us, even though he probably felt like he was being interviewed after a while. Here´s a recap of some of what we asked:
"Why the hoods?" The hoods are worn to cover the person´s face and to keep their identity a secret.
"How is it decided who walks in the processions?" The people walk in the procession as a way to ask forgiveness for their sins or to thank God for His blessings. The people who feel they have the most to ask forgiveness for/be thankful for are the ones who carry the statue, some of which weigh over a metric ton! There´s usually an average of 40 people carrying the figure. In Murcia, the statues were carried one the shoulder, but in Sevilla, the people are actually underneath the statue carrying it on the nape of their neck! There, there´s a curtain around the base of the statue to cover the legs of the carriers, which makes it appear to be floating. Other people choose to walk with the procession, which we playfully described as the "10 Sins or Less" group. Some walk barefoot; some carry stones in their robes so as to make the walk more strenuous and therefore more meaningful. It´s all a matter of choice and how much gratitude and/or repentance you want to show.
"Are all of the processions the same throughout the week?" No, the processions on Holy Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday are typically louder and the crowd claps with the passing of each figure. The processions on Holy Thursday and Good Friday are silent and often lit by only candlelight. Unfortunately, the Holy Thursday procession in Sevilla was rained out, so we didn´t get a chance to see it.
Okay, I know the post is already really long, but hang in there, dear reader. :) I´m almost done, I promise.
Córdoba, 19-20 abril
Although we were only there for one night, Córdoba was a great stop on our mini-tour of Andalucía. We took a tour through the Alcázar, which is an old fortress. From there we took a walk through the botanical gardens, which was beautiful. After that, it was back to the hostel for a quick nap then out for dinner and a flamenco show.
 |
| La Alcázar |
 |
| Fuente en los Jardínes Botánicos (A fountain in the Botanical Gardens) |
 |
| La Mezquita - which was closed due to a procession. |
Sevilla, 20-22 abril
The next day it was on to Sevilla, where we had a wonderful 2 days of exploring. Here we went to the Cathedral, the Plaza de España, and the Plaza de Toros, among other things. The Cathedral in Sevilla has a few points to brag about - it is the highest and largest cathedral in Spain, the largest Gothic building in the world, and the third-largest church in the world (behind St. Peter´s in Rome and St. Paul´s in London.) I´ve already posted the full album on Facebook, but here are a few pictures.
 |
| Plaza de Toros - Bullfighting ring |
 |
| La Catedral - main entrance to the Cathedral |
 |
| A view from La Giralda, the Cathedral tower |
 |
| A fountain in El Naranjo (The Orange Grove.) The Grove was part of the Mosque which originally stood where the Cathedral stands now. La Giralda (the tower) was also part of the original structure. |
 |
| Plaza de España |
For their final day in Spain, we travelled to the capital city. There, we had seafood paella for lunch with Poli and Susana, who were our hosts for the day. From there we went to the Reina Sofia art museum, where Picasso´s famous painting Guernica is housed. We also saw a photography exhibit while there. The rest of the day entailed a tour of the city in the car. The next day, after taking Dad and Jean to the airport, I met up with my friend, Bre, and her family. We had coffee and then went to the Prado art museum, where we saw more amazing art. It was so mind-blowing to see all of those famous painting by El Greco, Goya, Velásquez, etc. that I´ve read about. My only complaint, however, would be that there was too much noise in there. I like a nice quiet museum where you can really think about and appreciate the art you´re viewing, but it´s hard to get to that level when there´s a constant buzz of talking, laughing, babies crying, bored teenagers whining, blah, blah. I saw a kid with his iPod and I thought, "Now, he´s got it figured out. Listening to some music, looking at some art. Off in his own world." I´ll have to remember that for next time.
The next day I took the train back home to Murcia, where I was greeted by the local celebration of Bando de la Huerta. It´s a festival that celebrates farming and agriculture and all that good stuff. These Spaniards love a party! :)
It was a great two weeks, but seeing my dad was definitely the best part. I´m so grateful for everything my parents have done, and continue to do, for me each and every day. I can´t sufficiently express my gratitude, but I try to show it through how I live my life. Love you, Mom and Dad. Miss you everyday.
More blogs to come, including one from Ibiza (in case anyone wanted to vacation vicariously through me, haha.)
Love to all, xoxo
No comments:
Post a Comment