El Cotillo Fiesta

The children's games at 10.30 were again not reported!!! (as forecasted)

At 18.00 the children's party began with the arrival of two inflatables.   The first a bouncy castle, the second a football game.  We have attached two photographs below and you will probably notice that in the second one there are hardly any children in evidence!   Mostly adults, these villagers really enjoy their games.....   The bouncy castle was the magnet for the tots and they obviously did not get a look-in with the football.

The 24.00 event was billed as a Dance with a bracketed comment that you should be prepared to get wet.....

At last year's event an invisible line was in situ!!    Nobody except the organisers knew where it had been drawn.   Anyone that crossed the line was immediately uplifted and thrown directly into the harbour.   Age was no discriminator!   There was no safe area as the line seemed to move depending on who, where and how many people were milling around.   With that in mind your reporter took alleyways previously avoided in an effort to circumnavigate the central area of frolics.   I am happy to say that my research paid off and a soaking was avoided.   This year at midnight it was a low tide.   This gave me more confidence that there would be no “villager tossing” this year.   How wrong can a person be...

Revellers were picked off and CARRIED fully clothed and plunged into the sea.

In the back ground of the second picture above you will glimpse small clusters of  protesting youths who are fighting to stay dry but to no avail.   A constant stream of sea creatures of all ages emerged from the water and scrambled back up the beach.

If you made it to the quayside hardstand you may have thought you were safe.   BUT a pump had been installed behind the stage to force sea water through a fireman's hose affixed to a high pole.   The pump was periodically switched on when dancing was in full swing.   Those that escaped a soaking were then manhandled into position so that they did not feel left out!

Fortunately once again the temperature was high, as were the spirits, and all soakings seemed to be taken in good humour.   The group continued to entertain regardless of the antics and spray that abounded.

This reporter feels it necessary to apologise for the sixth picture, a night exposure lens was used with the highest spec equipment unfortunately I cannot be held responsible for the DTs being experienced by the cameraman!

This is Your Cotillo Correspondent signing off,  dry (except for the heat) and feeling no pain.