We decided with friends that we we going off in the motor homes to see the Three Kings at Benidorm. We had not seen them at Benidorm before only at Torrevieja WOW! what a difference, it was like comparing Barnsley football ground to the Nue Camp football ground at Bacelona.
We arrived in Benidorm in the afternoon and parked the vans up, where we parked you can stay for four days free of charge before you have to move, so it is a nice spot for to stay Friday to Monday.
The weather was with us it was warm and sunny so as the parade was not till 6 pm we had a walk along the prom and then went for a meal.
We went up to the old town where the parade was to be and took our seats (well we pensioners after all) and next to us was a Spanish family with young children. WE got talking to them as they spoke better English than we spoke Spanish and they told us the tradition of the three kings.
It starts on our Christmas eve when the children choose one of the Kings to write their letters to ( as ours would to Santa) as the father put it in the hope they get all they asked for in their letter where ever you are nothing changes with children.
On January the 5th. the kings arrive by boat so the children believe they have made the journey from the Holy lands and have the parade through the streets.
We did not get photos of them arriving as we were futher in the town maybe next year.
As we waited for the parade to pass our way the children were getting more and more excited, I can tell you it brought a smile to the face just watching them, the poor mother and father could do nothing to calm them down.
Then in the distance we could hear the drums of the first band well the children all arround us could not contain themselves.
Then the first float came and the rain of sweets we colected the ones thrown at us and put them in the childrens bag.
The smaller photos were taken with my phone as the battery ran out on the camera.
The funniest part of the parade was when the animals came along, there was llamas donkeys camels an d geese, everybody was in stiches at the geese, The donkeys came first being stubbing as they are, then the proud camels looking as if to say we are to good for this, the llamas jst walked along when told to but the geese well can you imagine a load of geese walking through the streets.They were well behaved till there was a halt in the parade and it came to a stand still, the geese thought they would take a look at when the croud had and started to wards them all going in different directions, but when the parade started again the keeper clapped his hands and they all ran back in line and waddled off down the road agai.
When the parade passed we madeour way to the square where the three kings were going to meet the children.
In the square they had put an old fashioned carrasel and an ice rink, the kings took to the stage as the fire works were going off all arround us and the children all went up for their presents (free of charge).
The families then go home for a special meal that lasts till midnight, then it's time to open the presents. A long day for the children I would think.
