Reading My Way Around the World

Monday 25 August 2014

Fiestas, Concert and Cirque du Soleil

I'm trying to learn how to use my new-to-me laptop … too much technology and while it's not beating me, it's definitely slowing me down - two days to put up a few photos onto a blog … humph!!!  :)

We had our first concert in Spain on Saturday night - it worked out really well inspire of the language barrier - the audience loved what we do and we've been offered lots more gigs.   A good experience all round.

Then we had an amazing day in Bilbao yesterday - the weather wasn't too hot which made it even more enjoyable.

The Marijaia
It's Fiesta time here in the Basque country - they finished last night with a big firework display which was attended by I'm sure half a million people - out in the street, watching the demise of the Marijaia - I've just been corrected - I thought it was Marie Calle - oops - She is sent off in a boat until next year - in fact I think she's burned along with a sardine!!!   Couldn't quite get to the bottom of that one :)   But regardless! - there was really sad music all over the tannoy and the bridge on the river was packed with people watching her and cheering her passage through.  And the atmosphere was fantastic.

Then the fireworks started just behind us - we sat in the middle of a roundabout and watched a great display.   Then wandered back to our car afterwards along with all the Promenaders .





Earlier in the afternoon we went to see Cirque du Soleil - I've been wanting to do this for so many years and it was every bit as good as I had imagined it.   Just quite simply WOW!!!!!

Cameras were not allowed in the auditorium so I've taken these photos from their website and from various newspaper reviews.  

The show was Dralion
Grace and elegance personified
It included all the traditional circus acts - jugglers, clowns, acrobats, dancers, balancing acts, etc … but the standard was so high.   This guy was my favourite - although it was hard to pick one act as being special out of so many special acts.




The clowns were so funny - slapstick at its best.
The colour was exciting, there was continuous movement and each act was better than the one before it.  
All the children's' favourite - the lady in blue on the silk scarves
flying around from the ceiling. 

And of course for me, the singers and the musicians were the creme de la creme.  
The Dralion singers
A wonderful experience.  So so happy to have seen them - and in a foreign city too.  

A day to be remembered for a long time to come. 








4 comments:

  1. Yes it's always rather tricky trying to get a handle on these festivals especially in a foreign language (your description of Marijaia had me guffawing out loud!!) It all sounds rather wonderful and having seen Cirque de Soleil many years ago I can only agree that they are breathtakingly superb in all aspects of their shows. So glad to hear you are all having such a great time :-)

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    1. It's been a real treat Pempi and a good dose of Vitamin D to boot :)

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  2. Hi Fil - I remember decades ago being in France for the fiestas in that region - and we had a day trip out to Bilbao and down to San Sebastien .. it's a wonderful part of the world.

    I was offered to see the Cirque in London - but I was too too exhausted with my mother and uncle and simply couldn't have coped - I'd have collapsed.

    Sounds like your trip is being amazing - and looks like you'll be having more visits ... cheers Hilary

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    1. San Sebastian is supposed to be beautiful - maybe next trip we'll go and have a look.

      It's very hard to do things when you're coping with ageing parents Hilary - we had a long bout of it over the Winter - I can totally understand how exhausted you were feeling. But there'll be plenty more opportunities to see the Cirque.
      Fil x

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