Wednesday, April 22

The kids and I started off the day slowly, but eventually we made it across the street to play at the pirate ship playground that's across from the river.  Rosa and I played tag and hide and seek and "mono" (monkey) while the boys played with water and sand.

Then we walked over to wear I'd bought my Feria dress to pick it up after its alterations.  It was an absolute ghost town as Wednesday was a holiday in Sevilla.

We got home, Scott walked in moments later, and then we all changed into nicer clothes to head down to Feria.  We crossed the main street (Torneo) to catch a cab.  In the distance you can see a horse and carriage.  These are everywhere at Feria and also all around town.

Our intent was to catch a taxi.  Every taxi was full.  And the busses were so full that most passed by without even stopping because there was no more room.  So, we opted to walk.  It probably took an hour to get to the fairgrounds.  The closer we got, the more people we saw dressed in traditional feria costumes.

We finally arrived.

It is so festive there.  So many colors and smiling faces and dancing (and drinking).

People of all ages come out to enjoy the festivities.

The men typically wear long-sleeved shirts, ties, and jackets, even in 80+ degree sunny weather.

Rosa and I just wore sundresses for the afternoon.  Here we are in front of the caseta (tent) where we were invited for lunch at 2:30pm.  It's about 3:30 and Scott's co-workers and us are just arriving.  This caseta is a triple-wide.  

It was so special and amazing to be invited inside.

Just beyond me is the back room with the kitchen, bar, and bathrooms.

We were invited to take a horse and carriage ride around the fairgrounds.  This is the first time the kids ever had the chance to take one.  After the initial fear of being up so high, the kids LOVED it!

There was some serious horse jams. 

Family shot.

Views of some of the casetas and some of the horses.  The wives of two of Scott's co-workers were on the horse and buggy ride with us.  They were so nice.  

Check out the hats the carriage drivers' wear.  So neat!

Love this picture of the man with his little girl on his lap riding horseback.

Rosa tried on her traje de flamenca.  Gorgeous!!!!!

My hair with the huge flower - shown from the back.

I'm ready to head out the door.

That night, I had the chance to meet Christine.  She's wonderful!  She was 2nd year college roommates with my childhood friend Kristen T.  They lived in Madrid for 5 years and this fall they moved to Sevilla, where her husband grew up.  She was a huge help during our preparations for moving here, and it was so nice to meet in person.  She had invited me to join her for a night at Feria.  I met in front of her home and we walked over.

She's currently earning her Ph.D. (and teaching full-time and a wife and a mother - amazing) and one of her classmates had invited us to his caseta (pictured above).  I had another true Spanish experience.  Most of the night I just people watched as I can't yet follow conversations in Spanish.  We drank some of the traditional Feria drink (a white wine with 7-Up) and ate a variety of ham tapas.  Later on, another friend of Christine's showed up.  

I'm so thankful for having had two very authentic and Sevillan experiences in one day.  So amazing!  I arrived home after 1am.  While that's early for Feria time (the bus ride was full), it was crazy late for me.