Güicán Festival

Another reason I traveled to Güicán, was to see the annual Festival of the Virgin Morenita, which supposedly attracts thousands of deeply religious devotees.  I discovered the devotion was mostly to music, beer, and fireworks.  

The festivities began with fireworks: lots and lots of rockets that shoot up in a trail of smoke, then burst into multiple flashes.  The pyrotechnics guys launch them by holding them by a long stick extension, lighting with a cigarette, a beer in hand, and letting go just in time:

A couple of them landing reasonably close to a herd of cows and a horse who appeared to be watching.

The local citizens seemed to be enjoying the show too.

The main plaza was surrounded by restaurants offering plenty of meat.

In the evening I was greeted at my hotel restaurant by a table full of very happy Colombians, one of whom treated me to a shot of cerveca followed by a shot of whiskey.  I reciprocated with a beer for him.  Here’s a group photo of the guys and gals I ended up partying with, in traditional hats and beautiful white panchos.

See the young lady on the right?  She stuck with me all evening.  I explained to her that I was married, three times as old, and twice as tall, but she answered with her limited English: “Very Good.”  (Please excuse the man with the open mouth and perfect teeth: He was giving drinks to everyone from the four bottles of whiskey in his bag):

In the evening, there were even more dangerous fireworks.

And music until dawn, with the performers coming down from the stage to join us.