Last night was the celebration of Virgen del Carmen.

On the evening of July 16 her effigy is paraded through the streets and taken for a trip around the bay on a flower-adorned boat, accompanied by a flotilla of “jábegas” (fishing boats).

As is customary a lot of people celebrate (well any excuse for a party) and the festivities ended with a very impressive firework display - well impressive to everyone but the numerous dogs that started howling and if Moreno is anything to go by the cats didn’t like it much either - he was not at all happy or impressed.

We watched the fireworks from our balcony - one of the benefits of living slightly higher than the marina itself as we get a great view.

Background

To understand why the Virgen del Carmen should be held so dear to the Spanish we need to go back to the Old Testament.

Downshifting in his old age, the prophet Elias retreated to a cave in Mount Carmelo near Haife (Israel). Many centuries later, hermits following in Elijah’s footsteps asked for the protection of the Virgin Mary of Mount Carmelo - the Virgin of Carmen. Stella Maris, as she was also known, was soon adopted by mariners and fishermen everywhere as their patron.