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The poetry festival

It was in May that our friend Dorien asked us if she could organize a poetry festival. We didn’t have to think about that: of course she could! We were happy to do something for Dorien, for all the help we get from her. And wow how nice is that: a festival in Bárcena!

The festival was to take place on the 14th of September. In the summer we already met some of the artists, who were there to get inspiration. And of course the organization who was preparing the festival.

Unfortunately the 14th of September was not during a children’s holiday in the Netherlands, so Maaike went on her own and without a car that was a bit of a challenge. We will spent a small blog about the journey to Bárcena without a car.

I arrived on the 12th of September, so I was able to see all the last preparation, which was already quite fun! On the 13th there already was a sort of teaser for the festival, with images shown on the walls from lights in boxes. 

Next day the 14th was a beautiful sunny day for a festival. I started the day cleaning our house to be and working on the roof, when the village started to fill with people. 

The festival started with a tour through the village with Dorien and Mako who did an acting performance. Dorien was acting that she wanted everything to be as it was. Mako was acting that she wanted to change things. It was very funny and off course the foodforrest was mentioned as something weird.

 



For lunch and drinks a little bar made of cardboard was set up before the building where we hope in the future there will be a real bar






Some kids were selling stuff from a market stall




After lunch there were several performances around the village, poetry based on sounds, poetry via recitations, poetry via songs, poetry via paintings and installations all through the village.

And the festival in Bárcena ended with a performance of a band



Off course there also where a lot of familiar faces and new meetings:

Familiar faces from Abajas, but only on the first night, because of a festive in Abajas on the 14th. But also for example Ignacio from Busto, who gave us some furniture.

Alfredo and Angelica were getting the honey from the bees in the house we just both from them the day before. 
On the roof I met Remi, a guy from the Netherlands, who we had email contact with. He was traveling with his family in Spain.

Jesus Bujeda and his sister. She said it’s so nice that now when people are talking about Bárcena, she could proudly say: “that’s my village”.

A nice family from Pancorbo, with two girls the same age as Trisa and Riva. There were many kids at the festival, so I was sorry we didn’t just took ours as well.

A guy from Briviesca who said what you are doing is better than anything else

Maria from Arconada, who drove by when I was watering the paulownias at the big land and decided to help me, it was nice to get to know her better. 

A big car full with older ladies from Barcelona arrived at the village, they were having a tour by all the villages where they had their roots.



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