Viva la Fiesta!

Friday was the Old Spanish Days Fiesta parade, and I Fiesta-ed my heart out.

The day started off with me moving from my lovely little cottage below into the main house, which was equally as lovely. The owner is so creative - there are so many interesting and intricate items in her house - in my house it'd look messy, but she manages to make it look so creative and like something out of a magazine. I love the look it gives.

I headed down the street for the noon start of the parade. Note - I remembered to liberally apply sunscreen before leaving the house - I know with my lily white Melbourne winter skin tone this is a must.

This is State St before the parade started. By the looks of things you would have had to arrive early to get good "street side" seating - with many shops and cafes 'reserving' the space out the front for thier staff and friends.

I was very careful and found myself a spot which I thought was fairly shady. (You can see where this is going can't you?)

This 90 something year old woman has been in all 84 Santa Barbara Fiesta parades! Apparently this is also the first year she is not on horse back... after 84 years the horse got too tired so she gave it a rest.

The parade is one of largest equestrian parades in the country.

Hello sailors!

And this is State St after the parade!

post Fiesta...

After the parade I found this market where there all sorts of Old Spanish Days things, mainly drinks and food! I've realised that I have a severe lack of knowledge of any spanish/mexican food - enchilada and magarita is really all I know (which are the most important items, right?)


There was a stage where I watched the kiddies do some traditional Spanish dancing - they were really good! Unfortunately I didn't get any photos, but there were some really little kids, as young as 4 years old. Very cute.

And so I had a margarita here (which explains the sudden end of photos) and made my way down to the wine bar on Stearns Wharf. I met some great people down there, including someone from Rockhampton QLD! (You really can pick an Aussie accent a mile away - even though she has lived here for 10 years!)

Wine bar lead to an Irish bar... O-somethings... O'Malleys I think... which lead to a very sore head the next morning. Sore head and... SUNBURN! I've turned so red you could wave me in front of a Bull at some Spanish Bullfighting! Even my feet got sunburnt! (With lovely little sandle straps)

I've been told that sunburn and a sore head is a sure sign of a good Fiesta!