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I think Corpus Cristi is my favourite holiday in Sevilla. The main event takes place on a public holiday – always the first Thursday after Trinity Sunday (which is 60 days after Easter). There is a small procession that starts around 8.30 am and finishes at noon. The night before the procession route is strewn with sprigs of rosemary and flower petals, balconies are draped with silk shawls and flowers, shopkeepers try to outdo each other with bread & wine window displays, and altars large and small are also put up. When I first came to Sevilla I was told by Agustín that the best part of Corpus was to get up early and walk the procession route before things got started, when the morning air is still cool and fresh and there aren’t too many people around. I have done this many times, though not every year. In fact, not for the past three years. Last year I was on chemo an unable to get up early (though you may recall I did stupidly go out and move furniture in the HEAT later on that day), the year before I was still recovering from my first operation, and the year before that I was in Lisbon. As always, anniversaries and holidays make me think of times past and I get that bittersweet ache inside, hoping that I will see many more.

So last Thursday I quite enjoyed getting up early and going out with Nog & Jessica, walking the route and then nipping into the Horno San Buenaventura for brekky just as the procession started. As usual, I took lots of photos which you can see in the slideshow above. You can also see some photos taken over the years in this fotki album (the first three taken yonks ago during a wonderful visit from Lizzie). The rosemary and rose petal shots in the slideshow are my favourites. Wish you could have been there.