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Third day into our trip we noticed the weather was about to change: a light shower also brought down Sahara sand!

We were assured by bystanders that this Sahara sand was an exceptional phenomenon. Indeed, we faced much worse!

Our 3rd visit in Sevilla for processions and I predetermined again an underground carpark, closest we could get
before facing blockades. Not far from 'Campana', hoping to find better photo opportunities.

This looked funny at first glance.. Only at home I noticed its true nature
That kid faced a long walk while in the procession, hence being carried.

Found a good spot walking down Calle Sierpes (a busy pedestrian street with many shops) and
Avenida de la Constitución. I had to keep my camera at this location high over my head. Not ideal.

A different brotherhood, different 'hoods', banners and standards.

The relief group of portadores is standing by to take over the carrying of the float.

A Paso (Spanish: 'Episode of the Passion of Christ') is an elaborate float made for religious processions. They are carried by porters on staves, like a litter or sedan chair, and are usually followed or escorted by a band. Some have long skirts that cover the bearers entirely, giving the impression that the statue is floating on its own power. The porters are called costaleros, cargadores or portadores and their leader is called a capataz ('Foreman' or Head Man'). The capataz sets the chicot , the period of time between a paso being lifted and set down again; the costaleros cannot pick up or set down the paso except by his leave. This is signalled by the llamador ('crier'), a knocker on the front of the float. During Semana Santa (Wikipedia: Holy Week, the week preceding Easter Sunday) the custom is to make pasos adorned with large wooden statues of Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary, saints and biblical personalities from the Passion.

I changed my location somewhat.. The harsh light made it difficult to see structure in the 'hoods'.

'The inhabitants of towns and villages are busy all year round preparing for the various processions during the
'Holy Week'. During Semana Santa, many Spaniards return to the region where they grew up. Sevilla has the most extensive processions in the Semanta Santa. The Holy Week is the busiest week in Seville with tens of thousands of tourists from the rest of Spain and from all over the world visiting. The many tourists are attracted by the
enormous passion and and emotion that the week radiates.'

Exchanging glances..? ☺
The robes probably signify some sort of hierarchy among the hermandades (brotherhoods, or cofradías).
The banners and standards probably signify a brotherhood. Other hermandades follow different routes
at different times. Probably all starting from the Cathedral. It may well proceed deep into the evening.

Processions are for all ages

Holding the candle with both hands. Too much wind to light them.

A Paso (Spanish: 'Episode of the Passion of Christ') is an elaborate float made for religious processions.
They are carried by porters on staves, like a litter or sedan chair, and are usually followed or escorted by a band.
Some have long skirts that cover the bearers entirely, giving the impression the statue is floating on its own power...

It was time to make my way back again; I did not know then that we wouldn't be given the time ot visit the castle..

Different outfits, probably returning or going to a different procession.

At this time the sun had come out, blue skies and harsh lighting.

The weather showed signs of changing, brisk winds were felt, but initially we had a better day than predicted.
Barrasco (Storm) Nelson was fast approaching, but worse was about to happen, which made the storm insignificant.

 

Disaster struck on Day 7. I had advanced our return flight by 2 days but thought to check a doctor first... NO GO!

The façade of Hospital Virgen de Valme Urgencias; never considered an extended stay (2 weeks) in a hospital abroad.
Naïve, to say the least. A watershed moment for us, travel will never be the same..

The view over parts of Sevilla. I saw all kind of weather pass here.

The (overflow) parking lot has some interesting murals here.

During 2 weeks I hardly did any photography. It seemed in itself suddenly unimportant, bordering on the banal even.

On my way to & from the entrance/exit and café I always passed this photo composition, 'all' small pictures of staff.

 

Spending days 09:00-19:00 in a hospital room for support made me soon run out of books (and medicines) so
I had to get back into Sevilla to stock up. This bookshop 'Casa del Libro' in a suburb had a decent selection
of titles in English. Another one, by the same franchise in Seville, had none. Hot or miss.

This bookshop came recommended by the daughter of the roommate in the hospital.
This 'Casa del Libro' is on CC VIAPOL, Av. de Diego Martínez Barrio 4, next to an underground carpark.

Manga comics seem popular here!

I bought two paperbacks here, unfortunately they did not have art- or photobooks. Quite surprising, I thought.

Walking back to my car I came across a small group of football supporters, with the inevitable police and media.
I found out that the cupfinal between RC Mallorca vs Atletico Bilbao was the next day, 06Apr24.

Athletic Bilbao beat Mallorca 4-2 on penalties, the game had finished 1-1 (after extra time).

Here's the 2nd view we could visit together, to view the area around the hospital, while walking up and down
the corridor of the 8th floor. Boredom doesn't start to describe it, but amazing it can go together with anxiety.

More to the left from the same window. There was a staff parking and something that looked like a prison..?
We felt trapped too. Due to the religious festivities there was no specialist visiting for 4 days, but the immediaate operation and 24 hours on I.C. brought relief. The rest was a waiting game, repeat & repeat & repeat until...

More murals on the overflow area of the normal carpark.

PAGE ONE CÁDIZ | PAGE TWO CARMONA | PAGE 3 SEVILLA #1| PAGE 4 SEVILLA #2 | CLOSING PAGE

LINKS
www.labelleseville.com/en/holy-week-seville-guide
en.wikipedia.org:_Holy_Week_in_Seville
www.andalucia.com/festival/easter/processions

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