Posts Tagged ‘fiest’

The nine day San Mateo festival comes to an end today. There has been a lot of stuff on in various different places in the city, ranging from a classic car show to an unforgettable (but not in a good way) polka band in the park. I’m not really a fiesta kind of person, and it’s not nearly as much fun when you’re not in a group (so if we’re here next year this is a good time to visit) but I’ve done a few bits and pieces.

There are two signature events in San Mateo, according to the local TV, one is the parade on the day of the Americas in Asturias (lots of floats, lots of latin rhythms interspersed with pipe bands marching past) which was on Friday, and a big fireworks display in Parque Invierno (winter park) at midnight last night. I missed the fireworks because I had walked up the Naranco mountain to see the sunset and by the time I got back I just wanted a beer and a sit down for a while. However, it was covered live by TPA, the local TV station, where two reporters gamely batted back and forth ‘ooohs’ and ‘aaahhhhs’ and comments like ‘that’s a blue one, oh, now a yellow, maybe silver’. The fireworks, while not on a Chinese scale, were pretty impressive.

The other major theme of San Mateo is the chiriguitos, the outdoor stalls where you can get a drink and a buttie. Really they should be thinking of changing the name to the buttie fest, because combined with the chiriguitos, today is another day for bollos, bread baked with a chorizo inside (although I prefer the ones with black pudding). Almost everyone on the street has a carrier bag with their bottle of wine and bollo preñado. Last night was the busiest so far. The steets were packed, and amazingly, for streets packed with people who all seem to be drinking (1000 mojito drinkers in Cuban corner is a sight to behold), I haven’t seen a single fight. Not one, and not too many incapably drunk people. I cannot imagine how a citywide street festival lasting nine days with a significant drinking component would play out in the UK. No, actually I can imagine it and it wouldn’t be pretty.