But moving on, Thursday I took my first salsa class, and was it an embarrassing disaster! I went with a Belgian friend, who had been going for a few months, but being from Vermont, where the most authentic form of dancing is Contra' dancing. But it sure showed that the only shuffle I knew how to do was the ¨square,¨ which got a few people annoyed, but WHO CARES!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Saturday, I decided to got to Ronda, a village in the mountains (or sierra) outside of Malaga I went with my language academy, Clic, and was hesitant before about going, because I didn't know anyone, but I knew I would be missing an opportunity, so I seized it! And was it great! Apparently, Ernest Hemingway and George Orwell both stayed in Ronda for long periods of time, and parts of Hemingway's For Whom the Bell Tolls takes places in the countryside surrounding Ronda. Ronda is well known for having the oldest bullring in Spain and El Tajo, which is a HUGE aqueduct (now a bridge) that goes down into a steep and narrow ravine.
I was in awe over how there was a town built around this steep ravine, and on top of a series of large hills. And of course I learned some random facts, like that Ronda has the most museums per square kilometer, and that there is a town in the nearby sierra that has the highest amount of rainfall per year in all of Spain! Watch ya know!
I didn't have much time to rest when I got back, because I went out with friends from my language academy, but the next morning my host mother and I left bright and early for la Romeria de Rocio. For all of those that aren't familiar with Rocio, it is a mix between Fería and Semana Santa, but still a bit different. It is held in a pueblo (it looks like something from the Wild West) in the town of Almontes, close to Huelva, and is only used once a year. The festival is held fifty days after Easter. Up to a week before, pilgrims start el camino. The pilgrims tend to wear traditional Andalucian clothes, and carry there things via horse and buggy (just like during Westward Expansion.)
We passed our day eating, drinking, and singing songs about la Virgen de Rocio (it's an older virgin, and was found in the swamp near the pueblo) with my host mother's family. Her family had a very small house, where all of the stayed over the weekend, so the celebrations of Rocio, I felt, was a lot more private than the Fería.
At 3:30 Monday morning, the Virgin left the Basillica. IT WAS INCREDIBLE!!!!! When the Virgen de Rocio leaves the church, she is, at first, carried by men (and only men) from the village of Montes. They all gather within the church, and when they bell strikes they all go running to the virgin to get first dibs. And the rest is total chaos! Everyone is trying to get a piece of the virgin, and carry her around. But the people, supposedly, that are fighting to touch the virgin, say that the virgin is speaking to them for them to come forth. Personally, I'm surprised that virgin has lasted for as long as it has (since the 13th century!) But it was quite an experience because some people were having religious visions, right next to me, which was a little scary. Also, when the virgin is carried, it isn't very organized, and sometime she falls down. So, when she came by where we were standing, the crowd pushed, and almost suffocated me, because the force was so random and strong. I think that it might have been one of those crowds that could kill someone, but I'm pretty sure everyone got out alive this year!
We got back to Sevilla at seven. I went to sleep right when I got back to the apartment, but I have been exhausted all day! But, it is my last full week in Sevilla, so I'm just going to make the best of it and have....... A BLAST!!!!!!!
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