Ati-Atihan, Day Two

The highlights of the festival in Cadiz were on Sunday. During the morning is the street dancing competition. Different groups of mostly youth practice for months to create an interpretive dance with costumes. Then, one by one they perform them for the judges. The place was packed, but i got me, Ben, and NC into the better viewing area because the guard saw i was a 'tourist'. (In other words, white.) We watched the competition for about 4 'tribes' and then went to get lunch. In the streets, where there are all kinds of booths for food and carnival games and junk to buy, people were everywhere. And on this one day, anyone who wants to can bring out a can of paint and put it on other people's faces. I got a lot of paint, on my face, arms, and in my hair. It was fun. It's mostly teenagers with the paint, and some would come and ask me 'isa pa?' ('just one?') and then put a little paint on my face. Some run past with a handful of paint and just smear it everywhere. There was also live bands at night, and a beauty pageant, and a big street party with fireworks the last night of the festival. Monday was of course a holiday, to recover from the party.