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.