El Cotillo Fiesta

The first gathering of the day started to form at 12.30 when firework rockets gave a call to arms.   We have a small church in the village but it is not generally used.   All the services are carried out in the next village and so today when they were going to be blessing the boats, El Cotillo villagers walked to the church in El Roque.

After the service “Nuestra Señora del Buen Viaje” (Our Lady of Good Voyage) was carried aloft by senior male members of the congregation, decorated with fronds from palm trees and festooned with red flowers.   She headed the procession which made its way back to El Cotillo with nearly a thousand people walking behind.

On arrival at the Old Harbour at around 15.00 she was carried through a palm arch which gave entry to the beach.   Awaiting her arrival was a flotilla of boats of all shapes and sizes.   She was lifted aboard the lead boat accompanied by much cheering, clapping, boat claxons and more fireworks.   The lead boat pulled away from its moorings and was followed by the flotilla of small boats packed with villagers and laden with flags.   The “armada” headed straight out to sea and moved along the coastline to bestow  its blessings on the New Harbour and all the fishing boats therein.   When she returned to the Old Harbour she was met by a band playing and the cheering of the crowd.

After disembarking she was escorted once again by the throng on her journey back to the church a mile away.

The guys carrying her must have been exhausted and we could not understand why they did not pick the young and strong ones.   It might be because it is an honour to perform this task, on the other hand it could be so that they could get acquainted with her so that she will recognise them on their, possibly imminent, arrival!

Some musicians of the band from the harbour apparently lived in the same direction as us because as they passed our house they were still playing.   They were dropping members off on route so when the last man arrived home he was playing solo!!!

Calm descended on the village with all the crowds breaking away in family groups to enjoy their own festivities.   These seem to take place in indoor areas adjacent to their homes which afford large spaces and are decorated and furnished for the occasion.   In England  we would call them garages!!!   I do not think, however, that any of them have ever seen a car.   They do have sink units and quite often are used for drying washing but I do not think they are ever used for parking.

These personal celebrations continued until the firework rockets called them again for the music and entertainment in the Stadium at 21.00.   Numerous acts performed for the crowd and were received with gusto.   As it was a Sunday, public festivities ceased at midnight.   So why didn't we get home until 05.00?

This is Your Cotillo Correspondent signing off, reverentially in an alcoholic haze but nearly half way through the festival fortnight.