Nines

The Land Of The Smiling Mule is split into two very different areas. There's the main village with its steep hills, old Arab quarter and castle, and there's Estacion. Estacion is the newer bit, it's where the train stops (no **** Sherlock!) and I've just found out its real name is Los Angeles. Estacion Los Angeles is in the middle of its Novena at the moment so there's a buzz in the air again. From what I can gather there are lots of things happening centred around the number nine but the main emphasis is on nine days of prayer which culminate in parading the Virgin (La Señora De Todos Los Angeles) around the streets.

I'm told the devoted are deep in prayer for nine hours a day for the nine days of the Novena. However, sombre as this is Spain wouldn't be doing it's job properly if it didn't turn even this into a fiesta. There are all sorts of competitions, sporting events, live music, dancing and generally staying up far too late and not going to work the next day. At mid-day on the eight day there's La Mojada (the soaking). One of the main streets in closed, huge vats of water are brought in and everybody takes part in a water fight. The rules are, there are no rules.

I've never made the connection before, but could this be our own version of La Tomatina?