Semana Santa (Holy Week) is the last week of Lent and the week before Easter. I was in Southern Spain during parts of this week and was lucky enough to witness two processions in celebration of this week.
The large city of Granada, Spain hosts a huge celebration of Semana Santa starting on Palm Sunday; the day Jesus rode into Jerusalem. After a long day of walking around the entire city of Granada (I consulted the map at the end of the day ... I nearly did walk the entire city), I was intent on finding some dinner and heading back to the hostel to lay flat for a while. The bus ended it's route short of what the map said and I ended up having to walk back. What my friend J and I could not figure out was why?! When we walked smack into the middle of the procession we figured it out! We happened upon nearly a front row spot to view the procession.
One of two Mary's in the procession.
An Order of the Brotherhood preceding the station with Jesus and His disciples.
Jesus and His disciples at what looked like the last supper.
Refilling the incense.
Another Mary. This one was AMAZING. So detailed and beautiful.
Each city has its own unique way of doing the processions of Semana Santa. They use different stations based on their own churches so each procession can be very different. J and I did not stay for the entire procession. We watched three of the five stations pass accompanied by their bands. We were tired and hungry ... so food and sleep won out.
I was in Solobrena, Spain on Wednesday and was able to see the town's procession to celebrate and display Christ's suffering and humility. Compared to the procession in Granada, Solobrena's was nearly non-existent. It only had one Order of Brotherhood, followed by one station and then one band. J and I had scoped out a spot to watch the procession and at the starting time we assembled there to wait. We waited and waited. Turns out Solobrenians like to follow the procession along the route. They all went with it from the church; cheering and applauding when the procession was moving and taking in refreshments whilst it was taking a break of its own. After two hours the procession, along with the entire town of Solobrena converged on our little corner. Even though the procession was much smaller - I enjoyed how the station was carried, "danced about" and moved through town.
We laughed when we realised that the procession would pass right by our hostel! We could have napped for two hours and then gone out to the street to watch it pass by. Oh well, that is part of the excitement of experiencing new places.
The famous Lisboa yellow trams. Downtown Lisboa.
The arch that links the Commerce Square and Augusta Street. Downtown Lisboa. I do believe that gray, black and yellow are my new favourite colours. Haha. The contrast is eye catching - especially in the old buildings.
Spots along the road. These just struck me as interesting and beautiful. For some reason I have developed a love for graffiti?! Maybe it is because graffiti in Ukraine is so colourless and boring ... I do not really know. It just usually catches my eye.
Laundry hanging out to dry is always fun. I have a grand time trying to catch a photograph of it blowing in the breeze!.jpg)
People. This man and his dog were sitting in the street whilst I was wandering downtown Lisboa. The little dog was to cute to pass up (I even donated to his cause). The dog did not want to keep holding the basket and he would try to set it down. Every time he did his owner would pick it back up and encourage the little guy to hold it in his mouth again. So cute ... but so sad.
I can only imagine the stories this woman could tell ... what a delight it would be to have the opportunity to hear them..jpg)
The local dress code in one of the sea villages. A bit pirate-ish mixed with a short skirt and throw in some argyle. Her personality matched her outfit!
Cabo da Roca. "Here, where the land ends and the sea begins ..." This is the westernmost point of mainland Europe. I imagined all the explorers and sea men in history standing on that very spot wondering what happened when you reached the end. There is no doubt in my mind the fear that must have gripped the sailors (and their families) who traveled with Columbus, the unknown can be terrifying; standing there looking out - there was nothing but the unknown. I am thankful that I know what is at the end of that horizon!
The Alhambra was built in the mid 14th century buy the Moorish rulers. It was built for the last Muslim king of Spain. After the Reconquista in 1492 some portions of the fortress were used by the Christian rulers. Though they chose to build their own palace, The Palace of Charles V, because he felt the Moorish palace was not grand and magnificent enough for him to live in. (Which just meant it was not BIG enough for him … because his palace pales in comparison as far as craftsmanship and decoration … my opinion. Haha.) The whole area was allowed to fall into disrepair until it was “discovered” in the 19th century by scholars and travelers. In 1832, Washington Irving published his collection of essays, verbal sketches and stories titled Tales of the Alhambra. The book was instrumental in reintroducing the Alhambra to Western audiences and allowing for the historical status it enjoys today.
