The San Isidro Pilgrimage in early May in Estepona

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In the first half of May, usually but not always on the Sunday before the 15th May San Isidro feast day, Estepona has its traditional Romería de San Isidro, which is a religious-cum-sociable occasion for the people of the town to celebrate their Patron Saint.

Great fun!

Other towns also have this occasion, but most combine it with the San Isidro Fair in the middle of the month; Estepona has two separate occasions for merriment. An excellent idea!

It starts at 9 in the morning when rockets and firecrackers are set off outside the Parish Church of San Jose in the centre of town, to announce the start of the Pilgrimage. The procession sets off up the Calle Terraza, wends its way slowly past the Orchid House, to the Avenida de Andalucia on its way to the little San Isidro Chapel in the Pedregales Park.

What a sight!

Because the procession is not a religious one, but is made up of a series of tractors pulling what seem to be little thatched cottages! Some of them aren't even tractors, but other motorised agricultural machinery.

People have decorated a trailer so that it resembles a modest country dwelling, but with added flowers, fruit and vegetables, and smiling inhabitants waving as they rumble past.

It takes just over two hours to get to the Chapel at a snail's pace - you can do it in a car in 10 minutes - and at about 11.30, therefore, its arrival is greeted by an enthusiastic pealing of the bells, and mounted horsemen make a floral offering to honour the Saint.

Other townspeople have driven up already to get a good vantage point in the park, and above all to get a good picnic table and set out their beach "neveritas" - cool boxes - with the food and drink for the family.

At 12 o'clock the Midday Angelus Prayers are said in the Chapel, and then the serious fun begins. There is a Dance performance of Flamenco by young girls, followed by the Children's Procession - all dressed up, of course, as Country boys and girls with neckerchiefs. Then the band starts up for the Live Music Dancing - an amazing sight with so many people dancing in the park.

There's a children's party with games, face-painting, clowns, another Dance performance, and two more religious services: Mass at 18.30 and Thanksgiving at 21.30, with in between general jollification of eating, drinking, dancing, playing your guitar and just chatting with friends, family and neighbours.

It's all rounded off by more fireworks at the end of the day before the cottages and their inhabitants make their weary way home, sleepy children nodding off in their mother's arms. There's no ticket, no booking, just turn up with your own picnic!

P.S. La Romería de San Isidro is also the name of a painting by the Spanish artist Goya, originally painted as a mural in his country home, then transferred to canvas, and now in the Prado Museum in Madrid. .

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