28/03: BURNING OF THE SARDINE. Corralejo 2014

The Burning of the Sardine marks the end of Carnival on the Canary Islands - I believe on mainland Spain they have 'burial' rather than a burning.   It took place on Sunday evening and we viewed the parade, the burning and the fireworks with friends before finishing the evening with a Tapas Meal in town.  It isn't such a grand affair as the main Parade which took place on Saturday evening but still great fun and the fireworks are spectacular

As always there is lots of crowd participation and the 'sardine' is paraded through town with lots of wailing 'widows' and mourners.   Here's a selection

Always one isn't there??   LOL

This was the sardine prior to being paraded through town and burnt on the beach.   In keeping with this year's carnival theme (Terror) the trolley/support has a vaguely spooky appearance

Photos never do justice to fireworks do they, but I like the effect of this one as the picture was taken without benefit of a tripod (or steady hand)

So that's all over for another year .... but Fuerteventura folk love to party and I believe there is just one (or maybe two) months of the year that doesn't feature a festival or parade or similar here.

We are now back in England and getting back into a routine.   I plan to be back at the drawing board soon

23/03: THE CARNIVAL IS OVER ..... Corralejo 2014

Well almost over  .... just the Burning of the Sardine Ceremony + fireworks on the town beach tonight.

We have soooooo many photos from last evening's Parade.    The floats were impressive but I really enjoy seeing what the 'ordinary' people are wearing/doing.    Here's a selection.   Without commentary, except to say that as usual there are lots of men dressed as women (and some of them are very good at that)! and of course lots of alcoholic beverages.  The theme was 'Terror' but in reality there was a real assortment of characters and we recognised some outfits from previous years' carnivals which were obviously being reused

Some photos were taken when it was still daylight.  In theory the parade starts at 6.30pm and takes 2-3 hours.   It can get very chaotic at the end so we like to be there at the start and then wander off to have a meal halfway through.

Claudina Morales is the local Mayor(ess) and President of the Canary Coalition and Social Party - obviously not popular with all the people - hence the RIP notice below and the group of grave-diggers accompanying it who pretended to dig a grave for her on the local roundabout!