" Well did you ever?, what a swell party this is !!! &q

[BonysLad]

Well, everyone knew it was coming .

Bunting and stage erected in the square, beach being flattened by an enormous tractor but who could tell what was going to take place at this years Festa de Virgin del Carme. Enquiries at the Tourist Office resulted in a scruffy little typed handout, it seems like it's a tradition by the Council to understate by not publishing too widely the fun that was to unfurl as the week rolled on. Apparently the dates aren't finally fixed until a few weeks before even though everyone knows it always takes place the second week of July. However faith was restored on the first day ( Tues 10th) when the printed programmes appeared arond town. The fiesta kinda builds to a crescendo as the week rolls on.

Starting quietly on Tuesday with a few formal speeches and a classical recital in the church. Wednesday night giant bouncly castles wobble in the little breeze there is with a huge kiddies party with free ice cream for the nippers. Later on traditional music in the square.

Early supper on Thursday night as us, sad middle age men rush to see the belly dancers starting at 9 o'clock. ( " Think we'll skip another bottle of vino, dear as we don't want to miss the start of the show !!!!!" ). Very colourful and disappointingly tasteful which was then followed by some mexican dancers who had obviously escaped Clint's 45 from those spag westerns !!!!. Then an amazing juggler who balanced a five foot sword perpendiculary on the end of a dagger in his teeth ( Obviously no pre performance drink in Bonys for him !!!!).

Friday night another kiddies party with disco and foam ( Forget the latest Harry Potty, kids this was cool !!!!)and later for the mums and dads a fabulous spanish group ( Mecano Simfonic) consisting of three guys and two gals , a sort of upmarket Abba, all accompanied by great musicians . The audience was spell bound for their whole performance.

Obviously party night Saturday cos all the seats had been arranged around the square for dancing. On the beach another stage had been erected in front of the smoothed sand with banks of speakers that would have done Glastonbury proud. So off we partied, boogying with grannies, kids and all the locals in the square to a couple of great spanish groups. Later to the beach for the giant disco which I heard intermittently through the last part of the night in my slumbers and was told by friends who went home at 5.30 a.m. that it was a great craic.

Finally Sunday night with traditional dancing in the square , then the drums of the Pollenca devils leading the mobile fireworks to the beach. Included was some madman whose bicycle was bedecked with exploding catherine wheels ( probably the brother of that Tour de France cyclist who ran over that beautiful dog !!!!). And so to the beachfront for the fantastic firework finale of nearly half an hour of colour, movement and excitement.

Wonderful !!!!!

These people really know how to party. Suppose the weather helps but you wonder why , when our councils struggle to string six coloured light bulbs between two lamp posts at Xmas ( seasonal holidays to the politically sensitive amongst you !!!) why oh why we can't do the same.

Thank you, Pollenca Council

BonysLad