Romaria de Lunes de Quasimodo

On Monday Olvera celebrated a very special occasion, the Romeria de Lunes de Quasimodo.  The event celebrates  the day in 1715 when, after a terrible and  prolonged drought brought disaster to agriculture and livestock in the area and, following prayers and other religious ceremonies to the town patron, the "Virgin de los Remedios", the rains fell.  Ever since, on the second Monday after Easter Sunday, the people of Olvera have given thanks by taking part in a pilgrimage to the Santuário Nuestra Señora de los Remédios (a church 3 kilometers from the main church) to celebrate the event with dancing, music, and fun.  In other words, let's party!  As an aside, Olvera has had in the past two to three months the most rainfall recorded since 1947.  The local joke is that this year the festival is to give thanks for the rain finally stopping!

We observed, photographed, and greatly enjoyed the day's events, walking alongside the parade and later enjoying food and fellowship with a local family.  The following photos hopefully tell the story of the day.

This view, just 20 paces from our door, greeted us
to a gloriously clear morning

Village of El Gastor

Home made floats, pulled by tractors, line up
for parade

Cute, cute, cute

The wagons carry chairs and "party supplies"

Walking to drum and flute music

Someday they will be in the parade

This woman engaged Bonnie in conversation

Cart carries banner of Nuestra Señora de los Remédios

Our artist friend, Melissa Hefferlin

sharing  copas of sherry

Free small sandwiches of ham or chorizo

Guitars accompanied spirited singing

Classy

Now this is really something- how did they do that??

Melissa on the right

Up the hill to the Sanctuario

LOVE the wheel

Sanctuario de la Señora de los Remédios

Flamenco performance on the church square

Olvera from Sanctuario...

Vendors selling all kinds of goodies

This guy was a hoot.  Sells hats (and funny glasses)

Balloons for the kids

Folks find a place to set up for eating and partying

Simple, uncomplicated pleasure

A Spanish friend of ours, Eduardo, invited us and some of his UK friends to join him and his family at their picnic spot.  His mom, dad, sister and her husband were so very gracious to us.  And the food - oh my goodness.  So much of it, delicious!  A happy and memorable afternoon.

Eduardo's mom and sister made such good food

           

           

Eduardo is on left in red and white shirt

Mom and Dad, the gracious hosts