Passing By Before The Parade

Sevilla's teams of Semana Santa costaleros, the guys who carry the floats (click here to see some from last year) have been practicing in the streets lately. Another group came by our plaza last night.

PAY NO ATTENTION TO THE MEN BEHIND THE SCREEN.

PASSING BY THE PILE OF TRASH THAT MADE ME ALMOST SEMI-FAMOUS.

I can't believe we won't be living in Sevilla to see Semana Santa a second time (click here for a post from last year). It will be fun to witness the processions and events in Málaga, but it won't be the same as living in the center of the historic part of Sevilla and watching the processions pass directly below our balconies and right by our plaza. Although, maybe a procession in Fuengirola will pass right by our terrace.

GETTING A BIT OF GUIDANCE AFTER THE TURN.

The costaleros are usually well-hidden by plush velvet curtains, so it's fascinating to see them practicing beneath a simple base without those, the flowers, statues, candles and other additions that can make the float itself weigh up to 7,000 pounds (3,150 kilograms). It's hard to imagine that during the actual festivities, the costaleros do this job with their vision almost completely obscured, leaving them reliant on drum beats, coded knocking on the float, and other non-visual cues. Admiration aside, I doubt this is what San Geraldo had in mind when he mentioned wanting a dozen burly men for his own procession (click for that post).

IN HINDSIGHT.

P.S.: I've been including "click here" lately along with my hypertext links because I was told that not everyone knew to "click here." I don't want anyone to miss anything.