It seems like there’s always a party or festival going on in some part of Spain for a holiday. The province of Granada has had many since I’ve been here. I spent this past weekend where my parents now live, Almunecar. It’s a small town on the coast an hour south of the city of Granada, and is always nice to visit. This weekend was the Medieval market festival there. The walkway in front of the beach was lined with small popup tents selling local crafts, and even had some rides for kids. There were miniature pony rides and everyone dressed up in traditional medieval clothing.
Besides jugglers at the medieval market, I have been able to see a lot of different entertainment here. One of the most important traditions in the Andalusian region of Spain is Flamenco. Here in Granada, you can hear Flamenco music in the streets, in bars, and even in caves. I have seen Flamenco performances before, but by far the most exciting show was one I saw with my program, in a cave up in Sacromonte, a neighborhood of Granada. The performance was beautiful and moving, and was even more powerful after learning about the history and tradition of Flamenco in my classes. It is a huge part of the Gitano culture, and being able to see authentic dancers and musicians perform it was really amazing. I have also seen a lot of other live music in Granada, ranging from singer-songwriters at open mic nights in cozy bars, to hang drum players on the street. My dad, who now lives about an hour outside of Granada, is a professional guitarist, so I end up at a lot of shows with him. I have realized that the local people have a great appreciation for good music, regardless of genre, and are always excited to hear someone express themselves musically. I was surprised to hear so many songs being sung in English, and find that most of the songs covered at shows here are the same songs I hear back in the US. Although I do love Flamenco, it’s been nice to also hear songs that I can sing along to!
