At 6:20 we wake up with loud 'bangs'. This turns out to be fireworks. Quite strange since it was already light. They continue and at 7:00 I go for a jog (and to see what is going on outside). The square already has quite a lot of activity going on with a mob of people making noise. I love seeing everyone come out on the street or just standing in the doorways looking at what's going on outside. The colours are beautiful and I fetch my camera to take some pics.
Then my favourite breakfast so far of coffee, home made cookies, tortilla, cheese, fruit and fresh mango juice. The casa lady is so nice! An oldish lady that is just so friendly - a real graceful, stately lady with such a kind spirit. We meet a couple from Vancouver, Canada at breakfast and they suggest we wear glasses and a hat for the festival. What a lovely couple. They are about 65 years old and are on a 3 month tour through a couple of Latin American countries. Apparently with all the fireworks glasses is to protect your eyes from the ash of the fireworks and the hat to protect your head from eveything falling from the sky! We oblidge and off we go to buy some from the many stalls around. We collect the car from the parking lot and take a quick trip - about an hours drive - to Santa Clara to see the Che monument and main square. We find memory sticks for our cameras and suddenly the 1500 photo limitation was extended by another +/- 700 photos! I am very relieved since with x days left I only had about 200 photos left and I was starting to get worried that I'd need to limit my photo taking.
Back in Remedios we try taking a disco nap but the fireworks makes it sound like a war zone!
Our cold water turned into no water and the explanation was that due to the demand during Las Parrandas there is a water shortage.
After a delicious meal of black beans, pork, root vegetables with garlic and onion and Turron for dessert, we're off to experience the climax of the Las Parrandas. It does feel strange not to be with family on Christmas eve but what a great evening filled with amazing fireworks, street stalls, people, condensed milk pina coladas and cervezas. At around 3:30, I literally fall asleep on my feet in the square! Quite a funny feeling since I jolted awake when my knees collapsed! Found a seat among the hundreds of people and closed my eyes for a while before finally seeing the San Salvador float moving around the square. Finally bed around 4:30!