A small rock in the Atlantic: 20/12/09

Christmas Market in Santa Cruz de la Palma

Tall ships in the harbour at Santa Cruz de La Palma 2008

One of the tall ships in Santa Cruz de La Palma last year

For several years now, Santa Cruz de la Palma has hosted a Christmas market and a meeting of tall ships. This year, there are sadly no ships, but there'll still be a flea market on Christmas morning, from 9 am to 2 pm.

And a very Merry Christmas to all my readers.

Here on La Palma, it's been pouring with rain for days. At this time of year we expect it to rain sometimes, but we've had about three depressions roll over the island with scarcely a pause between them. The Taburiente river is in spate, and the road is closed where it reaches the sea at Puerto Tazacorte. And the road to the Roque de los Muchachos is also closed - this afternoon, the staff came down the Garafia side in convoy.

Labels: Christmas, Santa Cruz de la Palma, Shopping

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Where to find Nativity Scenes

I've just discovered a list of nativity scenes (in Spanish) here

Labels: Christmas

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Nativity Scenes

Christmas trees are a newish thing here, although probably most houses have one now. The main traditional decoration is nativity scenes. Some just show the stable, but some public ones are so elaborate that they include the whole village, and it's always a Canarian village. Obviously that's historically inaccurate, but no more so than all the English nativity scenes where Mary and Jesus are blond.

This one was on display in Santa Cruz de la Palma last year.As you can see, it came complete with moving figures and running water. In fact the lights at the back are on a timer, and simulate sunset, night, and morning too. I didn't include that on the video, because it took too long and I didn't think the camera would film the low light levels anyway.

Usually a large nativity scene (belen in Spanish) includes at least one person squatting behind the bushes. If there's one here, I missed it.

They've just opened this years belen in Palacio Salazar, on the Calle Real. It's open from 10 am to 1 pm and 5 pm to 8:30 pm until January 6th.

Labels: belen, Canary Isands, Christmas, La Palma, nativity scene, Santa Cruz de la Palma