Arctic Circle visitor

Today, there were no cruise ships in port, although several expected early Sunday morning. There was just the regular ferry to Melilla, and to my great surprise a vessel belonging to the Finnish Navy called 'Uusima A' and described on its Wiki page as a Minelayer. I wonder how much mine laying it gets to perform these days? I guess its role is one of coastal security and defence, as it has Russia as a next door neighbour in the Arctic Circle. 

Judging from festive bunting hung above the deck, it's on a courtesy visit to various Mediterranean ports. Given the number of Finnish residents on the Costa del Sol, as well as visitors, there's good reason to come to Malaga and through a party for people on the consular guest list. A different sort of experience for the crew too to be operating at much higher average temperatures, and proper night times, away from the land of the midnight sun.

Across the main road in the open air auditorium there was more music this afternoon. I watched a group of eight women in flamenco dresses sing several songs in raw unison, accompanied by a flamenco guitarist, who played with great skill and speed. Others in the audience, men and women were wearing traditional Andalusian style costumes, and may have belonged to ensembles that had performed earlier. They were all certainly having a good time.

Along the footpath beside the Avenida del Parque I counted 48 white painted wooden stalls, over a 200m stretch of path. These were occupied by an assortment of voluntary community groups from barrios all over the city. Some were arts and crafts oriented, some humanitarian, social or political, and all these activities were being undertaken and promoted by people of retirement age. This was a part of the Semana del Mayor, along with all the performances on the open air stage, and running from Wednesday to Sunday this week. I noticed the construction work getting the stalls ready about a month ago, and at that stage had no idea what purpose they'd be put to. As this has been an annual event for local people over the past 24 years, locals would know what was going to happen, I guess. Anyway, another impressive feat of social organisation by those who run the city, and make it good for inhabitants and visitors alike to make the most of life.