I’m back in the States now, after a long trip, but will still be posting photos from Spain for a couple more days.

First off, have I mentioned how extraordinary it is to see the Spanish horses (whether being ridden or driven) on the roads in the midst of traffic, with nary a mishap? One horse was hopping around a bit under its rider, but they were being kind of squeezed to the edge of the bridge by four lanes of car traffic …

this photo is slightly misleading because you can see only a couple of cars; it's fascinating to see the many riding horses and carriages (private or having been hired in the old town by people going to the feria) ... threading their way through four lanes of traffic, around the big roundabout, across the bridge, and on to the fairgrounds

People drive to the fair, or they walk, or they ride horses, or they ride in carriages, or they ride motos (it’s funny to see a man in a suit with a helmet on, driving his moto, with a flamenca-dressed lady seated sideways behind, as she might be on a horse … one of these wore a helmet but most did not, as it would be quite difficult with the flowers the women all wear in their hair). There was more of the car driving and walking this year, apparently, because the public transportation workers had timed their strike to coincide with the feria.

Sadly, we had some rain on and off on Wednesday. But no matter: most everyone (walking or in carriages) had umbrellas and the coachmen and grooms had come prepared with rainproof covers for their hats and with raincoats. All of which, of course, works quite well … but doesn’t look so feria-like in photos. Ah well. It was still a fabulous day at a most remarkable spring fair!

Raimundo and Pepa's daughter, dancing in front of her grandparents' caseta

two of the many riders, stopping for a cup of the ubiquitous drink whose name I never caught; it's a dangerously refreshing mix of manzanilla and Sprite

I was fortunate to be offered another turn around the feria in a carriage, this time with a five-in-hand in traditional harness; here: a view from my seat as we turned a corner; you can see the three leaders and one of the two wheelers

traditional Andalusian-style braids on the leaders of a team owned by Mr. Ordas, whose carriage collection our CAA group visited last year

here, finally, you can see a bit of everything on offer at Sevilla's colorful feria: the casetas, the paper lanterns over the sidewalk, the sycamore trees along the streets, a row of riders taking a drinks break, a carriage with passengers taking a turn around the feria, and women in colorful traditional dresses