Category Archives: Spain

Guns, Garrotes, Swords, and Firewater: Sword Dancing at the Fiesta de San Sebastian

Posted on February 1, 2012 by

I awoke in a panic to hear music playing in the street outside, “Damn, the sword dancing must have started already!” I grabbed my gear and ran out into the street, just barely remembering to put on pants and shoes … Continue reading →

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Sword Dancing Around the Bonfire: First Day in Villanueva De Los Cruces

Posted on January 30, 2012 by

The story really continues in the small town of Villanueva de los Cruces on the 2oth of January, during the festival of San Sebastian where there was to be sword dancing. I spent all night on the bus from Madrid … Continue reading →

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Bullfighting in Madrid: The Wrong Kind of Sword Dance

Posted on December 5, 2011 by

[WARNING: This post contains GRAPHIC IMAGES of Bullfighting] Bullfighting. Not something that I had ever really thought of going to, but that’s where I was headed. As I hadn’t been able to stay with a couchsurfer in Madrid, it was … Continue reading →

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Tango in Madrid: A Sword Dancer takes on the Big City

Posted on November 29, 2011 by

I never seem to be fully rested, fed, and prepared when Mr. Murphy and his stupid law decide to come for a call. With the short message, “I’m sorry, i thought i hadnt acepted u! my heads all in a … Continue reading →

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How I Wasn’t Attacked by a Wild Boar: A Performance Art Piece with a Really Really Big Jesus

Posted on November 25, 2011 by

Jesus wasn’t terribly hard to find at all. I forgot that in the battle of the statues, a enormous Jesus would look down on everything from the top of the mountains overlooking the town, so we quickly won that game of hide … Continue reading →

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Big Brother is Watching the Statues: Woody Allen’s Oviedo

Posted on November 22, 2011 by

I traveled by bus to Bilbao, played some banjo and then caught the bus to Oviedo. My friend Sarah met me at the bus station with a big hug and an offer to carry my banjo. We set off down the … Continue reading →

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Chain Sword Dancing in Marin! Also, Sevilla was splendid, but Travel was Terrible!

Posted on October 29, 2011 by

Time to travel halfway across Spain to see some sword dancing! My plan for the day was an ambitious one; I would bus to Huelva and then Sevilla (Seville), where I would drop my stuff at the house of a … Continue reading →

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Oviedo y Pueblo de Guzman: Wonderful Hosts and Sword Dancing from Afar

Posted on October 26, 2011 by

Ok, I’m just going to zip on through here! I went to Oviedo and met up with the leader of the dance group, who was also the town mayor and baker. We spent a lovely afternoon sharing our respective dances … Continue reading →

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Cordoba: Flamenco, Ruins and Early Mornings

Posted on October 18, 2011 by

My alarm roused me I knew it and I groggily hit the snooze button. Several times. Finally, I rolled out of bed and collected the last of my things. I had packed most of my stuff the night before, so … Continue reading →

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In the News: TV Interview on A Mochila do Viaxeiro

Posted on October 8, 2011 by

This was a show on the sword dancing in Marin. I come on at 12:57 and again at 15:10. The title of the show means Travel Backpack in Galician. They really were excited to have me talk in English to them, … Continue reading →

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