One of the many reasons I love Alcalá is that their major claim to fame is that Miguel Cervantes (author of the infamous "Don Quixote") was born here. So, they host a medieval festival for a week culminating in the "Día de Cervantes" (Cervantes' Day) to celebrate his birth (or his baptism?).
Anyway, it was really fun to walk around the different booths which sold medieval type crafts, food, spices, and more. There was also an animal pen, donkey rides, a wooden merry-go-round, banners of coats of arms, a musical parade, and of course Don Quixote and Sancho Pancha riding down the street.
Alcalá is great for its sense of community and its joy in celebrating life. It finds an excuse to celebrate the little things, but this day was very popular and the streets were PACKED with people.
HIGHLIGHT OF DíA DE CERVANTES: Walking around a medieval fair with Don Quixote riding down the street on his trusty steed and realizing in my head that, "Yep, this is where I live."
1. Banners in the Plaza de Cervantes (set up before the festivities began)
2. Coat-of-arms banners down Calle Mayor
3. Used book fair in front of the main Cathedral
4. Wood carver and guitar player
5. Crepes!
6. The man: Don Quixote
7. His trusty side kick: Sancho Pancha
8. The Crowds!
9. Puppets for sale
10. Spices
11. Basket Weaver
12. Pulpo (aka: Octopus)
13. Cerdo (aka: Pig meat-favorite of the Spaniards)
14. Licorice (for mom ;)
15. Wooden Merry-go-Round
16. Fresh made potato chips (for mom again ;)
17. Dates (for mom one more time ;)
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