Here is my friend Christy (far rt.) with 3 interns & some teachers from a local high school where they help with English classes -- they were kind enough to invite us to their tent/ caseta.
Inma is showing us how to use castanets-- I was pretty hopeless on my first try!
The entrance gate has a different symbol each year & is celebrated with a grand lighting at midnight when the fair opens.
My friend Sierra was good at improvising to have the flamenco "flair" with her purple scarf & flower.
Leticia was so kind to invite us to her "caseta" -- most of these tents are privately owned by families or businesses or "barrios" (neighborhoods), so you cannot just drop in.
The "Feria de Abril" is a famous week- long event each year in Sevilla.
Maybe you recognize the back of the young woman on the right with the pony tail and red swirl around the flamenco ruffles?
We enjoyed the break from regular semester college activities (everyone was off from classes) to go to various tents, learn to dance a folk dance called "sevillanas", and hang out & bond with students.
Before that week we also had a special "feria" party in my apartment-- above are Johnny (from Costa Rica); Abraham from Sevilla & Daniel (from Peru)... & here I am with my friend Carmen.
taking simple balloons to transform my place, I was grateful for Hendrik and Maggie and Aryn who were so helpful decorating -- (Aryn in red further below; Hendrik standing with a white sweater)
And we had over 25 attending! Even from Morocco, a friend of ours was in town.
