España, We Meet Again



Beachside in El Puerto de Santa Maria

I'm baaack! Well, obviously I've been back. For a full two weeks now. But in typical me fashion, I've been wallowing in my "back from vacation blues", and just couldn't bring myself to blog. Actually, that's not true. I mean, I'm definitely suffering from the back from Spain blues--because Spain was legen---wait for it---dary! But unlike last year, I didn't actually cry at my desk when I returned to work nor seriously consider grabbing my purse, and fleeing my job, to never return. [no bullshiggity]. Oh no, this time, I came back determined to fulfill my vow to move to Spain, and started my research, while fighting on hell of a cold [damn, the Spanish love their cigarettes!]. And then it was Memorial day weekend, and I partied so hard that I got sick all over again. And thus I don't have the physical strength to put my air conditioner in the window. And here were are in the third day of an EPIC heat wave in which I have slept without air conditioning [and have been showering the poodle in cold water until he gets a hair cut], and I now finally have the mental capacity to begin chronicling my outlandishly awesome time in España. 



C'mon, you know I had to get my dance on. More on this to come, promise!


So where do I start? Well, I guess at the beginning. Unlike last year, when I went with my older sister and two of my best friends, Hillary and Alihah, this time I just went with my cousin Labrone, who we went to visit last year, and was accompanied by his friend from the Air Force, Jason [who definitely looks like Derek Jeter (score!)]. I will say that I did learn that men and women communicate very differently, and I now see why communication is such an crucial part of a successful marriage, lol. And that my cousin is a pretty boy who obsessively irons his clothes and takes longer than me to get ready even though he's bald. [insert side eye here]. Oh, and did I mention that were were accompanied by my cousin's girlfriend, who speaks about 5 words of English? Yeah, I was concerned that would be awkward, but somehow we all made it work.



Espana, we have arrived! Waiting for our train in Sevilla :)



stuntin on day 2, to the Feria!



It's Iron Man!

So let's talk about the awesomeness, shall we? As I told you before, the impetus of this trip [aside from cousin visiting his cross-continental girlfriend] was to go to La Feria de Caballo or the Fair of the Horse, in the city of Jerez de la Frontera. The Feria is kind of like the state fair on STEROIDS and with horses! The people riding the horses were dressed in the traditional old world horse riding attire--and I'm talking men, women and itty bitty children that rode those horses so professionally that the little girl inside of me that always wanted a pony was insanely jealous and completely in awe. The crowd attending the feria was there to par-ty! All while most of the men and women were dressed in their best flamenco dresses or suits. The local restaurants all participate, and set up shop in tents called casetas that fill the city square. Inside the casetas is where the party was...and man did we party! But I'll get into that in another post...here are a few pictures until then :-D



Just as last year, the food consisted of pork and jamón and more pork and fried things and white bread. But still tasty :)





recognize anyone from last year? It's Fran, my cousin by association!





And let the tomfoolery commence!




It's Mateo McConaughey!



The Feria all lit up. I took this with my old point and shoot, because I didn't feel like lugging around the big camera all the time.

  



I did mention there was tomfoolery rampant, right? I blame Labrone, entirely!