Did you hear that stomping?

After last year’s San Miguel, this one had a lot to hold up to.  It definitely didn’t disappoint, but it was very different. After getting ready for the night, Whitney and I braved the rain and met up with friends at a delicious restaurant for dinner. We got our usual foods and drinks and enjoyed catching up with each other.  After dinner, we made our way over to “our bar.”  We spent the night meeting up with people there and dancing ridiculously (nope, dancing is not encouraged), then collapsed with exhaustion when we got home.

In the morning, I had another meeting at my academy at 11.00am, so there was no sleeping in for me.  The meeting was lovely, but did just remind me of the huge amount of work I needed to get done before Monday. Oh well, that’s what Sunday nights are for.  After I got home and Whitney woke up, we went to salir de cañas for the afternoon and luckily, the rain had stopped.  Basically beginning an eating/drinking marathon that would last until the early hours of the morning.  And eat and drink we did. With the old gang, as well as some new auxiliares here in town, we had fun bar hopping all afternoon, until the early evening when we made our way up to the fairgrounds and rode the bumper cars.  The bumper cars were my favorite part of Carnaval last year and I loved it just as much this time around. I feel like such a little kid when I ride them. It’s the best.

We continued eating/drinking and went out for dinner.  I was so full by this point and desperately in need of water hydration that I took a time out from eating and drank about 2 liters of water. From there, we went back to “our bar,” hung out for the rest of the night (a bit calmer than the night before), then hit it home to sleep very well.

Sunday morning I woke up to the noise of Flamenco music and stomping coming from outside my window.  Whitney and I live on the fourth floor in a building on the main street of town, so we were pretty much in the center of things.  There was a full stage set up directly below us, where there was a Flamenco show happening.  And when I say Flamenco show, I mean a Flamenco dance recital of little ones.  It was precious.

Later, some of us met for lunch, then stopped by an artisan market that was happening in the park. We peeked into an Arab tent and eventually sat down for some Arabic tea and hookah. Reminded me of the mother country.  Then we just walked around the market, buying some sweets and other knick-knacks, then said our goodbyes and went home to start thinking about work starting the next day.  We were glad to take a break from lesson plans by stepping onto our balcony and watching the closing San Miguel fireworks while eating arroz con leche. Life is good.

Eagle, owl, hawk, FOX, and other wild life at the market.

Last year’s San Miguel was a blur to me, filled with tons of introductions, faces, but with wonderful weather and so much life and energy. This San Miguel was much more comfortable, spent with great friends, not that great weather, and a little más tranquilidad.  But I wouldn’t change any of it for the world. Next stop, Carnaval!