We met in front of the school at 4 or 4:30 pm (which translates to "~5 pm" in Spanish). Everyone had costumes on. Oops. We turned in our "tickets" and received a BIG bag of confetti and treats and trinkets.
Soon (which translates to "an hour or so" in Spanish), the parade started. Everyone started to walk down the street. In a couple of blocks, we were joined by a marching band. In a few more blocks, we joined another parade and another band. We walked and threw confetti. Bronson lost his tooth. Lost. We tried to find it - but with all the confetti on the ground, never!
Soon (which translates to "an hour or so" in Spanish), the parade started. Everyone started to walk down the street. In a couple of blocks, we were joined by a marching band. In a few more blocks, we joined another parade and another band. We walked and threw confetti. Bronson lost his tooth. Lost. We tried to find it - but with all the confetti on the ground, never!
People watched from their balconies and threw candy at the passing parade. I imagined that Robert Mowery was there with us - above us - throwing water balloons at us. We love you, Robert!
The parade was dissolving and it was getting dark. It was about almost 8. Maybe it was dinner time. We went in the general direction of where we thought dinner would be. Amy found it ... closed and dark. Eva was coming down for a crash landing from her sugar high so Eugene, Amy, and Matthew took her home.
I stayed with the other kids. We saw some other kids from their school. We asked about the dinner. They didn't know what time it started but guessed that it would be 9:30 or 10 pm. We had 90 minutes to kill.
We joined a party in front of some church. The kids played some games and received more candy as prizes. Kerline and I were entertaining Yana by forcing a fake belly laugh ... and then noticed that we were also entertaining a small group of fathers sitting on the steps drinking heartily and belly-laughing with us. By then, we were REALLY laughing and we could hardly control ourselves.
Then we were all ushered into a line. Maybe someone told us what it was but we didn't listen or didn't understand. We didn't want to miss anything. Suddenly, each one of us had a big cup full of Spanish hot chocolate (which tastes like and has the consistency of melted chocolate chips) and a churro (a long donut). Yummy. We were stuffed - candy, chocolate, churros coming out of our ears! Then it was dinner time!
We went into something like a social hall (think Lion's Club) and found our seats. There were tables designated for children and other tables designated for adults. The PA lady came over with the list (that one with the map drawn on the back) and checked us off. Amy, Eugene, Matthew, and Eva came back. Soon (~1 hour), dinner was served. Holy Cow! Wine, beer, soda pop, bread, chips, nuts, salad, and sandwiches about as long as my arm! What do we do? To eat would be gluttony - to not eat would be waste.
We went into something like a social hall (think Lion's Club) and found our seats. There were tables designated for children and other tables designated for adults. The PA lady came over with the list (that one with the map drawn on the back) and checked us off. Amy, Eugene, Matthew, and Eva came back. Soon (~1 hour), dinner was served. Holy Cow! Wine, beer, soda pop, bread, chips, nuts, salad, and sandwiches about as long as my arm! What do we do? To eat would be gluttony - to not eat would be waste.
The kids had a few bites and then went out to the courtyard to play. We wrapped their sandwiches in napkins and inconspicuously tucked them away to bring home. The adults stayed in to visit, drink, smoke, and dance. I could hardly move - I was so stuffed.
The party lasted long past midnight ... we didn't last quite that long. It is now a week later. Eugene and Amy are still coughing (from the smoke). I'm still full. We are all still finding confetti in our pockets, our ears, our hair, our underwear.
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