Festival de la Luz
a Success
What a party. Not even
the rain could stop it,
as the floats, dancers,
musicians, acrobats, and
more took the streets of
San José in the annual
tradition called the
"Festival de la Luz"
(Light Festival).
The show that ran from
the Sabana park on the
west side of San José to
the Plaza de la
Democracia on the east,
along Paseo Colon and
Avenida Segunda, was
spectacular. Some
calling it the best
ever.
Umbrellas, plastic bags
and cardboard were used
by the many who,
surprisingly, stood
their ground in the rain
to see the annual show.
The light rain did not
affect the enjoyment of
the spectators nor of
those putting on the
show.
The athletes of the
Olimpiades Especiales
(special Olympics) were
the parade marshals,
kicking off the show at
6:00pm in front of the
Gymnasio Nacional
(national gym at the
east end of the Sabana
park), and led the show
onto Paseo Colon, which
had been closed off to
vehicular traffic since
the morning, and onto
Avenida Segunda, in
front of the thousands
who came out to see the
show live and the
television cameras for
those at home.
The first float was that
of the Municipalidad de
San José, an elegant
float inspired with the
music of Italian
Renaissance led by
choreographer Marvin
Santos>
Marching bands, clowns
on scooters, acrobatic
stunts and the 60.000
lights of the Scotiabank
float were all part of
the event.
"Tuanis", "Chiva", "Que
lindo", were the words
of many of the
spectators.
Traffic along Paseo
Colon and Avenida
Segunda had been
regulated since Friday
when work crews began to
install the stands,
lights and displays
along the parade route.
On Saturday vehicular
traffic was completed
closed off from the
morning, leaving drivers
to find alternate routes
to their destination.
At the airport, visitors
en route to San José
found a surprise as non-airpor
taxis were charging up
to us$60 for a ride to
downtown for a ride that
could take up to two
hours and some walking,
with bags in two,
depending on the
destination.
The annual event is all
part of the Christmas
season traditions in San
José.
The next major event is
the "Tope" - the horse
parade that is held on
December 26. This year,
like last year, the "Carnaval",
typically held on
December 27, is
cancelled.
However, this year the
Zapote Fair is a go, as
the annual event
cancelled last year due
to health permit
problems, kicks off on
December 25, sporting a
new bull ring arena that
will hold the
traditional "toros a la
tica", where a bunch of
people stand in front of
a bull then make a mad
dash for the exit when
the bull charges. |
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