Celebrations

We had been invited aboard Modus Vivende to celebrate Bobs 60th birthday. This was a curry night so our popadoms that we had carefully smuggled in came in handy! Jim and Megan had done nan bread and Megan had even baked a cake. Splendid.

L-R Maureen, Bob, Jim and Megan

We had a lovely time and it was such a change to enjoy a good curry, thanks to Maureen.

The booze flowed freely and it was very late before we departed to our respective boats.

Of course the day after had to be cancelled and Lynne and I could do no more than lie on the beach and swim. The beach got progressively more crowded as the tide came in. One visitor parked his car on the slip not realising that the tide would come up nearly three metres ( it was springs )

Dark Tarn is in the background in the picture above......

Soon a rescue committee had been formed and a crowd of local lads were determined to save the car from the encroaching waters.

Eventually after a great deal of pushing , shoving and robbing a fishing boat of a warp to tow the car , which still had its handbrake on, it was retrieved.

We had decided to stay in Pobra as there was a four day festival on. The Carme de Pincheiros. As usual this was signalled at ten in the morning and evening by 21 bombas de patenque, the very loud fireworks we were beginning to get used to. Around six we wandered up toward the church to see the preparations for the evening parade.

There was the usual ' gigantes ' or giants This time accompanied for no apparent reason by a clutch of Disney characters and Asterix. 

These were accompanied by traditional bands which in Galicia means bagpipes.

There were also dancers in traditional costume As the mass in the church finished the decorated statue of Carmen was brought out to join the parade initially carried by an all female group.

 We moved towards the front to catch the full effect. There were quite large crowds gathered along the route.

Everyone seemed to enjoy the music and dancing.

The last part of the ceremonial involved a religious service on the quay to invoke the protection of Carmen for all the men of the sea, which we appreciate.

By this time it was 9 o'clock at night and we returned to Dark Tarn as the fishing vessel carrying the good wishes of Carmen visited the fish farms in the bay and returned to the sound of the 21 bombas reverberating from the surrounding hillsides in the pink evening light.

Of course as this was only the second day it would all happen again tomorrow with fireworks!