FRIDAY
The village fiesta traditionally starts on the 19th August with the Chorizada in the
co-operativa yard where many small bonfires are lit for everyone to cook their sausages.
Wine, olives and chunks of bread are also provided...
...and everyone has a good time.
This is a wonderful start to the fiesta as every generation from young to old meet and eat with their friends.
Then, following the 'meal' groups go around the village with the band visiting each peña for a swift drink, usually a gin and tonic downed in one called a catacroc.
SATURDAY
The day starts with the midday mass in the ermita. This year at the end of the service San Ramón was carried around the building.
Once again it's a great opportunity to meet up with friends...
...and after to adjourn to the piscina for some cooling refreshment.
In the evening our friend Octavio gave a presentation on the book he has written about the village. It took him 2 years to write but it will take me considerably longer to read as it's in Spanish.
SUNDAY
There were 2 highlight events today.
The first event was a performance of Jotas by the group "Aires del Matarraña" in the school yard and I was there with my video camera to record the proceedings.
"Aires del Matarraña" are a remarkable group of musicians, singers and dancers.
The dancers are excellent and even play along with their castanets.
The costumes of everyone in the group is authentic which must be quite exhausting for the dancers during the summer when it is so hot.
The singing numbers included solos from each of the 5 performers as well as duets, a group number as well as vocals during some of the dance routines.
The dance Jotas can be seen by clicking on the following numbers:
The singing Jotas can be seen by clicking on the following numbers:
The second event of the day was the Concurso de Disfraces, the Fancy Dress Competition, which was held later in the evening in the Plaza Mayor.
First up, an offering by peña Pacharan - I'm still not certain what it was meant to be about!
To see their performance, click HERE.
Next, Catacoc. To see their performance, click HERE.
Unfortunately, Lo Skaldat did not perform to the stage where the judges and I with my camera were seated. The judges moved in front of them so they could see the performance, I videoed their rears.
To see their performance, click HERE.
Lo Carcas came 2nd with their version of a very traditional olive harvest scenario.
To see their performance, click HERE.
Lo Corral won with their version of how the people of Torre del Compte would compete in the Olympics - great ideas.
To see their performance, click HERE.
In 3rd place came Lo Topi although I'm still not sure what this performance was supposed to represent.
To see the performance, click HERE.
After the excitement of the Concurso de Disfraces, it was off to the piscina bar for refreshment under a beautiful starry night sky.
Overall, a very entertaining evening.
MONDAY
The main event was the cena de alforja in the Plaza Mayor in the evening.
Quite simply, this involved taking along a dish of food to eat with your group of friends.
Margaret made a lasagna which by now has built quite a reputation and is a firm favourite.
Others brought a dish of pork with pineapple, salads, empanadas and sweet dishes such as apple flan and melon.
You have to ask yourself where else could such an event take place? Once again, people spanning generations eating, drinking and having a great time together under a perfectly warm night sky. Wonderful.
Following the meal, entertainment in the form of a display of various types of ballroom dancing.
The activities went on throughout the night, as they have done each night of the fiesta, to the sounds of a dance group into the very early hours, often as "early" as 6.30 a.m.
Now, when the fiesta is finally over, we can return to the "normal" world with regular routines and an eye on world events which have been put on hold for the last few days.
Certainly a fiesta to remember for a long time. However, back to reality!
