WALKING THE PLANK

Today is the day of Santiago Apostol. And lots going on down in Santiago de la Ribera well into the early hours of tommorrow
See earlier post to see what´s on tonight http://polarisworldandbeyond.blogspot.com/2010/07/day-of-santiago-apostol.html

We went down to see the "Cucaña" where there have a greasy pole directioned out to sea and the local lads try to walk to the end to grab the flag and then they win a leg of ham.

The start of the festivities was a huge BANG of a firework.

The pole was coming off the end of the ferry and the spectators were bobbing around in the sea!

And then the boys started trying to walk the greasy pole....

They would inevitably lose their balance and...

fall with a splosh into the sea and have to do the walk of shame back through the bobbing spectators

Some did manage to hang on .... literally ;)

and occasionally some got soooooooooo close that the bobbing people cheered and oohed and arghh just like when a golfer misses the hole by a milimetre!

Finally one lucky lad did manage to make a flying leap whilst falling and took the most sought after prize!

For more local festivities around the beach click here http://polarisworldandbeyond.blogspot.com/2010/07/los-alcazares-santiago-de-la-ribera-and.html
The afternoon was finished beautifully by a "Menu del Dia" at Meson del Molinero down in Lo Pagan with views across the sea

You can see more info of this restaurant in my Restaurant Guide here
http://polarisworldandbeyond.blogspot.com/2010/07/restaurants-in-region.html

DAY OF SANTIAGO APOSTOL

Sunday the 25th of July is the day of the Patron Saint of Spain, Santiago Apostol.

Santiago was one of the twelve apostols of Jesus. According to tradition, Santiago came to Spain to spread the word of Christ, in the 1st century AC, at first he wasn´t well received but after seeing the aparition of the Virgen in Zaragoza,and from this moment Spain opened its heart to Christ.

Santiago , is the patron saint of the town Santiago de la Ribera, so lots going on.

At 8am a band will march through the streets, at 11am there will be a mass at the Santiago Apostol Church, at 12.30 there will be a "cucaña" as this is held by the sea, the greasy pole will not be straight up but across the sea! and contestants have to walk along it, without falling off! prize will be a leg of ham and a trophy! To see more pictures of this event click the picture below.


At 9pm there will be a procession

At 10.30pm there will be a Verbena (an open air dance) with the band "Showband" playing
To see a youtube video of the band playing click here
http://polarisworldandbeyond.blogspot.com/2010/07/los-alcazares-santiago-de-la-ribera-and.html