Monday 8^th SEPTEMBER 2008

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'La Reina de los Angeles' is the highlight of the year in the area. Fourteen villages each create a procession of carriages and people dressed in their best Flamenco outfits. These then slowly converge on Alajar where a huge assembly of decorated carts - some drawn by oxen - gather with brass bands for a traditional Andalucian festival of music, dancing, splendour and - quite a lot of alcohol!

Early in the morning we went to the village square to see the fiesta floats and villagers assembling for the long walk to the next village. This took several hours as the road was steep and long.



We followed the processions arriving in the village until after lunch when we set off on a long walk over the dry Sierra; parched by the Sun with only a slight cooling breeze. The walk was long and interesting. It eventually ended in Aracena where we visited the caves. These were both interesting and beautiful.

	Please click here to download and play a 13 MB movie of the procession.	Please click here to download and play a 8 MB movie of dancing in the procession.


We set off with enthusiasm!	Looking back we could se that the area where the festival crowds were gathered was greatly undercut by erosion.	Some typical scenery on the walk.

Geoff and Sandy's other websites can be accessed by clicking on www.geoffkirby.co.uk


Cork and Holm Oak trees	A welcome rest for a picnic at a deserted farmstead.	This black pig was determined that we should not pass!