Semana Santa (Holy Week)

Girl makes ball of wax from candle
drippings

This past week was Easter Week here in Spain, a holiday much bigger than Christmas, and here in Granada (Andalusia) we are lucky enough to witness the full regalia of this Catholic festival by watching multiple processions every day as they wind around town.



Carrying the gilded cross



Things got started on Palm Sunday. At the first “parade” I viewed I was surprised to discover the large amount of people involved and logistics that need to be arranged to put on this spectacle. The streets were just packed with people (locals and tourists alike) and policia were used to help control the crowds and keep the processions on track. There were people (men, women, children) in colorful hooded robes (think Ku Klux Klan), folks carrying special ceremonial items (crosses, septors, floats, etc…), and enormous lit candles dripping wax (we saw one girl creating a large wax ball from the drippings of those passing by). There is an unbelievable dedication to the ceremony and pageantry of it all. Most faces were somber and bands playing music were serious and dedicated. And the processions moved slowly; lots of stops for crowds, traffic, etc…. No one was in a hurry.   

Ornate statue of Jesus

Not the Ku Klux Klan

Each procession is represented by a different church and some date as far back as 1561 (no joke). The “parade” typically exits said church, moves in a circle around town and then returns to where it started.  There are always musicians (lots of brass instruments), people dressed in hooded robes, children included and a float with a statue of Jesus Christ that is carried by 20 or so unseen people, followed by another carrying a representation of the Virgin Mary. Some processions last until the wee hours of the morning, the printed schedule stating 3:15am (although I’ve heard they go much later). There are up to 5 processions a day and they start in the later afternoon, post 4pm. At one of the processions I witnessed today, we noticed one “float” being carried by women only, definitely a unique occurrence in this still fairly male oriented place.



Marching band

 In the evening, the central core is a very festive place, with vendors selling, candy, drums and balloons. People of all ages are milling about and everyone is chatting happily but it is not a party atmosphere per se (no drinking). Best part for Clark was the booths set up selling baked potatoes out of enormous kettles drums. For 3.50 euros you get an enormous spud with multiple topping options (cheese, ham, olives, corn, carrots, mustard and ketchup).

Corte de pelo (Haircut)


Haircut at home



Calcetines gets her milk



We’ve found a wonderful, local hairdresser who will come to the house on a moment’s notice and cut the boys hair for 5 euros. Last time she even brought her 1 month old kitten “Calcetines” or “Socks” who she couldn’t leave at home with her dog and whom she was still bottle feeding (no mama cat around to take care of her).

Easter hike



Fun Easter hike with the boys



Mountain goat

After a week of hanging around the house, and with a nice break in the weather (it has been raining a lot this week which is very unusual), we decided to get out and about and re-did a lovely hike we took a few weeks ago with the group from school. Afterwards, we enjoyed a fun Easter lunch at an outdoor restaurant overlooking the Sierra Nevada.

First Day of School (Round 2)

Prepsters

On Monday morning, I walked the boys down to their new bus stop on Gran Via (5 minutes downhill instead of 5 minutes uphill) and they got on a very swanky "airplane bus" which took them 20 minutes across town to their new school, Granada College. The first few days have gone well. Clark comes home happy and Colin is already off with his friend Xavi on a 3 day/2 night school excusion to la Sierra de Baza for a 4th grade camp** event (first time away from friends and family overnight and in a foreign country no less).

Clark opted not to attend the 6th grade camp as he wanted time to adjust to the new school and have some time alone at home without his brother. Worst part of Clark's first day was having to eat the tomatoes at lunch time so I'll deem it a success (it's quite formal and apparently you have to raise your hand when you finish each course). Colin spent his second day teaching his english class Clark's version to a Beatle's song "We all live in a yellow submarine. I hate the stupid thing. I want to paint it green." The days are longer and include many more activities including all kinds of sports (hockey, bike riding, there's even a pool) and obligatory Chinese (!).  But so far, both kids have not looked back.

** 4th grade camp, spanish style:

Nos ponemos en contacto con vosotros para comunicaros que este año los alumnos/as de 4º de Primaria van a tener tres días de convivencia con sus profesores y compañeros en el Centro de Educación Ambiental "El Cortijo Narváez", situado a 85 Km de Granada en el Parque Natural de la Sierra de Baza.

El objetivo de las actividades y talleres que van a realizar es conocer la gran diversidad floral y paisajística de la Sierra de Baza, además, ayudará a que desarrollen su autonomía personal, así como los hábitos de convivencia democráticos y solidarios en grupo.

El entorno de este parque natural, ofrece numerosas posibilidades para que los alumnos/as puedan realizar circuitos de multiaventura: rocódromo, bicicletas de montaña, tiro con arco, escalada, tirolina, juegos deportivos y cooperativos y gymkhanas de orientación. Además harán senderismo guiado por el parque Natural de la Sierra de Baza.

We get in touch with you to announce that this year the alumni / ae of 4th grade primary school will have three days together with their teachers and classmates in the Environmental Education Center "El Cortijo Narvaez", located 85 km from Granada Natural Park of Sierra de Baza.

The aim of the workshops and activities to be performed to know the diverse floral and landscape of the Sierra de Baza, also help to develop personal autonomy and democratic habits of coexistence and solidarity groups.

The environment of this park offers many opportunities for alumni / ae can perform multi-activity circuits: climbing, mountain biking, archery, climbing, flying, sports and cooperative games and gymkhanas guidance. Besides hiking will guided by the natural park of Sierra de Baza.