MIGUEL'S BIRTHDAY

About 20 minutes east of Madrid is what appears to be, from the highway, an unremarkable industrial township called Alcala De Henares. As is so often the case in Espana, behind the industrial exterior is a beautiful and historic ancient township. ADH also happens to be the birthplace of Miguel de Cervantes. For good reason, he is pretty big news not only in his home town, but Spain overall (indeed, el mundo) and every year from 8th - 13th October, his cumpleanos is celebrated with a week long festival.

BTW - Lo siento for the picture quality. I didn't set the camera up too well.

Plaza de Cervantes

The great man

Even local service stations get into the swing

And so it was obvious that Don L, Dulcinea and los ninos would venture there to join in the celebrations. What a great place it is and time we had. The streets were filled with people in medieval garb (the Spanish just love a dressing up occasion), food and craft stalls that were occupied by craftsmen demonstrating various skills consigned to bygone days. Wood carvers, spinning wheelers (no sign of Sleeping Beauty anywhere), stone gargoyle carvers, ancient fortune tellers, minstrels, falconry demonstrations, literary readings (natch!), and a whole lot more all took place.

State of the art carousel

Hand operated ferris wheel!

Falconry still exists

Where did I put my sword

Gargoyle stonemason

Which is the prickly bit?

Pottery...

...and the potter. Note the foot wheel

Stork's nest

JC hops down for a quick fag

...whither shall I wander

Not sure of the significance...

Packed streets

Luthier at work with interested bystander



Galician minstrels

Galician gaita (Bagpipe dating back to the Middle Ages)

Wood carver

We enjoyed all the activities as well as visiting Cervantes' hacienda and the museum (free). Needless to say, and with pride in such ample evidence, pretty much everything in Henares is named after the great man. The very least we can do is come back again next year. After all, our humble blog is directly named, in his honour, after his most famous work.

Food time...

Paella on the boil...

....done

Calling all carnivores

That can't be comfortable

Anyone for a slab of queso?

...more paella...

Dulces....mmm mmm

Aceitunas

Pan

Donas as big as your hand

Chorizo, spicy and sweet

Yum...

Where's Darrel Lea when you need them?

Confiteria

Rack 'em up

Would you take food from this man?

crepes

Not being condescending but merely wishing to state the importance of Miguel de Cervantes...

• The first volume of the incomparable Don Quixote was published in 1605
• It is considered to be the first modern European novel
• It is also still considered one of the greatest novels ever written
• Cervantes is the father of modern western literature
• He wrote many more major works, other than Don Q....e.g. try Journey To Parnassus or Exemplary Novels for starters
• His influence on the Spanish language has been so immense that it has been referred to as 'la lengua de Cervantes'
• What a hombre!

Don L looks up to Manuel

Miguel de Cervantes

Superb statue

Miguel's hacienda

Inside

Miguel's dunny



Don and Pancho ride by

How many snakes can you spot!!!

Fortune teller scaring the crap outta his customer

Squeeze the clay and he reads it - bizarre

This is what he gives you (translation):
Something as simple as the hand tightening around a piece of clay will discover:
That fate and the future are nothing more than the result of our own actions.
If you believe in yourself, you will not need anyone to check the road ahead. If you think for yourself, you can change your destiny.
And remind children of their obligation to love their parents and grandparents, and honour and respect their teachers.

 Fortunately, Aimee and Liam both love reading. I live in hope that one day they will fully delve into and enjoy the works of Miguel de Cervantes. If attending festivals like this one advance that ideal in any way, then it's well worth the trip.