Foggy Easter Sunday

We awoke this morning to extreme fog.  We went up to the church plaza where a concert was scheduled. This was the same concert that was rained out last Sunday.  Bummer again.  We went around to the front of the church where people were gathered and everyone was leaving the building.  There had been a christening for newborns and it was just finishing up.  What we soon realized is that it was an hour later than we thought.  Spain went on its daylight savings time overnight and we didn't have a clue.  We did attend the christening last year and it was delightful.

We decided to take a walk downtown...it wasn't raining, just foggy.  We have been walking a lot and enjoying the exercise.  With these hills it is a good workout. Here are some photos taken on today's walk.  

Foggy view of castle across church plaza

Church is etherial looking

There are three pharmacies in town and one is always open 24
hours a day.  They rotate this responsibility on a weekly basis.

Shopping for pastries at La Gloria, the town bakery.  They always
do a brisk business.  We bought three - all chocolate of course!

Fixer upper on left...fixed up on right

Bonnie caught this photo of two cuties

Balconies decorated for Semana Santa

the church can be seen from everywhere

On our way back home...

Sunny Saturday

We met Alan and Anne for coffee this morning at Bar La Noria. (Alan publishes a fantastic blog, "Olvera Diary".  To check it out click HERE.  Evidently some of the expat community gather every Saturday, which is market day in Olvera.  There was no market today because of Easter weekend. While there another couple joined us, Randy and Lene from Canada.  Delightful folks.  Turns out he has been playing tuba in the Olvera band that has been part of the processions this week.  We were also joined by an Irishman whose name escapes me.  Fun to meet new folks.

                

Afterwards we were walking about and came upon a building, Casa  Hermanda (Brotherhood House).  This is where a couple of the floats from the processions are stored.  We were able to get a very close view. Remarkable.

Float of Nuestro Señora de los Dolores

Incense was burning

Float of Jesús Nazareno

This bell signals the float bearers when to start and stop

Semana Santa processions

We have been attending Semana Santa processions all week.  Unfortunately, due to the weather, a couple of them have been cancelled.  We have been able to get lots of photos however, and would like to share some of them with you.  They are taken from several different processions so there will be some lack of continuity, day vs night, different color tunics, etc. The main thing we want to show you is the beauty of the processions and the charm of the town.

The following several photos are of the Processión de Nuestra Señora de los Delores. 
It was scheduled for 7:00 am but was postponed due to rain until 8:00 am.  The weather cleared out beautifully.  These processions start at the big church at the top of town, process through the narrow streets and then return, not to the church in this case, but to a building where the floats are stored.  The processions last 5-6 hours!

This post has LOTS of photos so keep scrolling. Remember, you can click on the photos to make them larger should you want to see more detail.

 Procesión de Nuestra Señora de los Dolores

 Procesión de Jesús Nazareno.  

Future float bearer.  There is a waiting list to be given this honor

The following are random photos of nighttime processions.  

 Nuestra Seńora del Socorro

 Procesión de Maria Santisma de la Esperanza

Procesión de Christo de la Vera Cruz

Procesión del Cristo del Amor

Calle Llana, main street of Olvera.  There
was a full moon this night!