The Romería

Sunday was the romería de la Virgen de Mar, which was held around the chapel in the dunes past Retamar, Almería. The virgen was washed ashore there many hundreds of years ago, they say. The gypsies, the horse people, the devout and the curious were there, with their picnics and their children. The horsey types brought their buggies and their mules. There was a market selling toys and hats and - for some reason - a small stand from La Voz de Almería, our local paper.
The bishop of Almería was in the chapel, reading scripture and eulogizing the Virgen. Nearby, a jolly trailer advertising 'Vinos' was doing a good trade.
I ordered a Málaga Virgen to toast the Almería Virgen. It was the least I could do.