Belinda would have LOVED that!!

http://www.festivalofworldcultures.com/visitor/default.asp

That's what I did this weekend. I'm so overwhelmed by the event it's going to take days to seep thru my fingers to tell you, properly, all about it.

Groups I saw included:

http://www.ojosdebrujo.com/ for some Flamenco/Rap (because Spanish just isn't fast enough as is...)
www.fun-da-mental.co.uk with Zulu Nation and a whole heaping spoonful of energy. Damn they were good!
http://www.ravi-art.co.uk/ West African version of Dave Matthews (Dan and Melissa should look for this CD at the wedding)
www.thelaceband.com Possibly the best act I saw over the weekend. Outstanding performance.
Mr. Whippy the ice cream van/dj booth
A Czech Folk Parade and Dancing
African Drums all over the place
Manu Ramirez & His Rumba Casino
The Gypsy Jazz Quartet

I took a Salsa dancing lesson and then followed it with a Swing lesson. We worked so hard in those two dance classes I can still feel it in my legs. I actually had to buy a t-shirt to change into after. Someone was grilling burgers over wood fires. I forgot how much I like burgers. I had my first Iced Tea in 6 months. I listened to some amazing jazz while talking and laughing with a man who could be Mel Gibson's brother. I ran into Gilly from my Italian class, Antonia and Anton from work. Met all kinds of people. Most of Spain showed up for Ojos de Brujo, who had a flamenco dancer on stage but didn't give him an elevated platform so most of us missed it. Spend a lot of time walking by the sea. It was the best weekend; possibly ever. 14 hours on Saturday, 12 on Sunday. Beer Count for Mom: 1.5. But also plenty of wine. :-)

Ok, where do I start? I took the train down to DL on Saturday morning and started with the dance lessons. Very crowded, mostly women. Which was fine. There is something to be said for letting go of trying to be cool and just throwing yourself into something. Lots of laugh involved in dance lessons... Salsa I feel I got the hang of. Belinda, once upon a time, had a free night and we went to see her husband play in a salsa band. (hi Brian!) And since I didn't know how, she took to the floor after many scotch (her) and many red wines (me) to teach me how to move my hips. it must have been histerical, because the entire bar stood and watched us. She was with me all this weekend I think. I know she'd have been at every possible gig with me. sigh... Anyway... You have to be very unafraid of looking like an idiot to Salsa. The more you exaggerate your movements, the hotter it looks. Swing however is a very tight dance. It was strange to go from one to the other. Swing takes a lot of energy to keep on the beat, so the more conservative your movements, the longer you can dance without oxygen masks. (or maybe I'm just out of shape) Anyway, I got to do the leading for swing, which was fun. Ron, I apologize for all those times I yelled at you, it's much harder than the girls part.

After the lessons, I wandered down to the food fair and followed my nose to the wood fire line where I got a burger. It didn't last very long, poor thing, but it was yummy! The good thing about the festival is, they had one main outdoor stage and the rest of the outdoor stages were set up in parks throughout the town. The indoor gigs were held in the local pubs. So you really got to wander around and explore the town, and they merchants really benefitted from the festival as well. I liked the small venues and I liked using real toilets and not port-a-loos. They had 140 acts in 3 days, 70% of which were free. The park I love to go to for the organic market was dedicated to children's acts/workshops/puppet shows. The entire park just for the kids. Stroke of brilliance really, because then when you loose your kid, they know to stay in the park and you only have to look there. The festival organizers had several people at the gates too to make sure the little ones didn't wander out alone. Great atmosphere in there. I tried not to hang out too long there, because well, adult alone with all those kids... not good. Plus they wouldn't let me make a mask. :-(

Anyway, back to the rest of it. I inhaled my burger and wandered down to the main stage. It was at the end of the strand, right next to the water. I caught the last 15 minutes of the Lace and wish I'd gotten there earlier. The crowd was small, maybe 200-250 people, but they were all dancing. Even the little kids. Just an electric atmosphere, high energy, very happy people. Will be purchasing their CD. After they left the stage (sadly) I hung around for Ojos de Brujo, the one act I wanted to see. They've been getting rave reviews over here, and the combination of Flamenco and Rap is really something I figure you've got to hear before you decide upon. Glad I did. The crowd, over the next 30 minutes, swelled to include every expatriate in the country and travelling spaniard. There must have been 600+ people when they took the stage. Started out a little slow, but when they got going, when the crowd got going, it was a great show. I keep using the same words over again, I know: great, amazing, phenominal... But these acts really deserved it. Maybe I should get out more...

After that I decided it was Millertime. Except that here it's Smithwick's Time, pronounced Smidicks. I popped into a pub and ended up talking to a Welsh guy who explained something very valuable to me. Well, a couple of things anyway. First, when New Zealand plays Rugby, it is very important (critical!) to see the opening. They do a Native Warrior dance to frighten the other team. It's tradition, it's aggressive and it's great spectacle. The other thing he explained to me is this: when you bump into someone in the US you say "excuse me" because it's polite. When you say that in ireland, it's translated as "Excuse me (heavy sarcasm Get the hell out of my way)", which explains why so many people give me dirty looks in crowds.

After beer and social lesson I went to dinner. I ended up in a cafe that prides itself on American dishes. Except the only thing american would be the Budwiser and the chicken wings. So I ordered a dozen wings and watched the waiter's head tilt back a bit when he repeated it. I guess Irish lasses don't order a dozen anything, especially wings. Then it got fun. I ordered a tea, English Breakfast. And 2 large glasses of ice. Lots of ice. Lots and lots of ice. If I don't get an iced tea, my head is going to explode. Big laugh followed by exactly that. 2 pint glasses packed with ice and a lovely pot of tea. I took my first sip and just sort of melted back into my chair as a sigh escaped thru my lips. I miss iced tea. They think it barbaric to ice tea here. And yet iced coffee/mocha/whatever is on every coffee menu! and really, just try to get enough ice to make a difference from waitstaff that is either in high school and doesn't care or from the continent and doesn't understand the subtle joys of cold beverages other than beer anyway. Sigh... That iced tea was a glorious moment.

I ended the evening in a club called Kozies II. No idea where Kozies is or Kozies I, but there you go. Great little spot, amazing jazz band. Small venue, packed with people, so finding a place to camp was incredibly difficult. After I wandered thru a serious traffic jam I was standing in front of this guy, who smiled and then toasted my wine glass. Being the Smart! woman I am, I ordered red wine, poured it in the glass and then hit the crowd in my white shirt. It was destined to end in disaster, but Smiling man took pity on my shirt and offered me a place to stand. Spent the rest of the evening chatting with him. His name is John, he's a postal worker, his wife was on a hen night, he loves Jazz so he decided to hit a few of the concerts rather than sit home. It was like spending the night with your funniest uncle. He was amazed I was here, that I had left the US to come work without knowing a soul. Thought it was very brave and made a fantastic story. Little did he know how I got to Texas! Eesh... that one still raises hairs on people's necks. The band playe, we laughed and then it was time to go home on the Drunk Bus. My first trip on the Night Link. (recap: it's abbreviated bus service after the pubs close, one fare for anywhere on the route, pick the general direction you live in and get as close as you can to home then walk or cab the rest of the way) It was the loudest bus I've ever been on. Including the ones from elementary and jr. high. But really more of a party atmosphere. Lots of laughing. Got home and then collapsed into bed at 1:30, fell deeply asleep at 1:31.

And that was just Saturday night...