Santa Semana in Puerto Cruz
La Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Peña de Francia dominates the plaza. Originally a small chapel built in 1603 by the Regidor Franchy Lutzardo. Later, the town became aware of the need to convert the chapel into a church, the work was completed in 1697. The tower dates from 1898.
A Procession was scheduled for 8:30 in the evning and got started about 20 minutes late. A statue of the Virgin Mary, surrounded by white lilies, was pulled on a float. The best part of it for me was watching the participants prior to the procession. A lady in a red cloak and white gloves was lighting one fag off another .. getting her last gaspers in before her ordeal.
A jolly lady in purple turned out to be one of the Penitents (Ku Klux Klan outfit to Americans) , the contrast before and after was startling. A sombre single drum beat (like a Death March) was constant as the procession went out of the church and down the pavement to another smaller chapel a few blocks away. There were young men with horns who occasionally played, but I preferred the scene prior to the procession. They were all tuning up and one started to practice by playing Moon River which got the immediate attention of one of the adults in charge who put a stop to that. What they lacked in numbers they made up for in sincerity.
Before ......
Much of the time she was smiling and chatting with her friend.
... and after
Seems menacing to me.
The fine print
Date of travel : March 2008
Country information : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tenerife