A real action shot.... taken just as it was fired! |
This year, to honour the bicentenary of the Spanish Constitution, the Benidorm fiesta is being preceeded by a "Cultural Week".
In the afternoon at San Jaime Square |
The day started off at 11.00am with a parade of the troops up at the square outside the Church of San Jaime and Santa Ana up in the Old Town (yes the very same one with the newly acquired organ!) and much firing of guns! They do like lots of noise don´t they.
French troops ready to fire on the Brits |
The crowds gathered as did dignitaries from the Town Hall to witness this historic event which surprisingly, for the Spanish at least, started on time at 18.30pm. The event started with a lone trumpeter playing the nation anthems of France, Spain and Great Britain.
Me flanked by two of the French troops! |
The only thing which slightly spoilt the occasion was that it started raining half way through. But true to form, despite the weather they continued the battle... unlike some of the spectators who made a hasty exit when the downpour started!
The costumes where incredible and obviously much time and effort had gone into research, as they certainly looked very authentic. The 50 strong members of the Valencian Napoleonic Association were backed up with members from the local Benidorm penyas, who dressed up as town folk of the era and joined in the reenactment - even children were included.
Check out the injured solider with his head bandage! |