Fiesa 2005 (Sand Sculptures)

I didn't want to miss Fiesa 2005,so we planned to visit on the last day, during our September stay in Portimao.

As usual, the event was well signposted, with alternative routes from the A22 motorway along the snaking minor roads to Alcantarilha, near Pêra.

As last year, parking was free, right across the road from the site, with only the blasé, road-crossing pedestrians to get in the way! (Folk really don't watch out when they stroll across a road in Algarve...)

Your ticket allows you to enter and leave as many times as you like during a day, so I wanted to see the exhibition in daylight, then return in the evening.

In 2004, visitors were allowed to help break up the sculptures, but that didn't happen this time, much to my disappointment!

The theme of Fiesa 2005 was Lost Worlds (or Mundo Perdidos, which sounds much more romantic, don't you agree?).

So, what was it all about?...

Fiesa 2005

Those talented sand artists from all over the world had excelled themselves once again. As before, some exhibits were solo ventures, and others had been completed by groups. It didn't matter, since they were all tremendously impressive to behold, especially on a gorgeous, scorching hot day. Somehow, that seems right for a sand festival...

Most interpretations of the theme centred around human endeavour, in the form of glorious (and sometimes gory) images of empires long past.

As usual, each of the sand sculptures had at least one caption board describing its theme in Portuguese and a few other mainstream languages.

This lost world was the empire ruled for millennia by Egypt

Others had chosen a subject from pre-history, like the enormous, breathtaking Dinosaurs display, seen dwarfing me in the picture below.

I was interested to observe how other visitors reacted to my favourite sculptures, though many, of course, were busy snapping pictures, just like husband Nev. This can make it difficult to get a good picture without lots of unknown folk wandering though the shot...

It was impossible not to be reminded that I was feeling peckish...

Once again there were family attractions like play areas and trampolining, wall climbing and so on. I was tempted, but knew we were planning to leave, eat a meal and return in the evening. And some things, like eating, are best taken on a non-upset tummy - so I resisted...

Actually, it was so hot that just walking around in the absence of shade was quite taxing, with Nev ordering me to smile every time he was due to snap another piccie!

Of course, not being a megalomaniac, I sometimes took pictures of Nev. And to prove it, here's one of him in front of the display about the ancient culture of India. And if you think he looks a little bemused, that's not unusual for him, poor dear...

What?.. Where am I?...

There was some suitably themed music from the speakers they wired around the site, all of which adds to the atmosphere. And of course most evenings end with live music from bands of different musical persuasions. there really is something for everybody at a Fiesa sand sculpture exhibition!  

• Monday - Oriental Music

• Tuesday - Jazz Disco Music

• Wednesday - Roots/Reggae/Dub

• Thursday - Portuguese Music

• Friday - Ambient then Chill

• Saturday - World Music

• Sunday - Classical Music

So, which was my favourite display? That's a tricky one, because they're all so fantastic... but, if I had to choose, it would have to be the 'China' exhibit (below), for the sheer detail involved - as well as the scale of the work.

 

 

I'd managed to forget why the event is called Fiesa, so, in case you have too, it's an acronym for "Festival Internacional de Escultura em Areia", which translates as International Festival of Sand Sculptures. You'd better memorise that, in case I ask questions later...

The Fiesa 2005 exhibition was open from 10am to midnight every day between May 22^nd and September 22^nd, which means that you should be able to catch it, whenever your Algarve vacation might be.

I was glad to have seen the exhibition on two consecutive years (and especially that the weather had been perfect both times, but then - hey, this is Algarve we're discussing!)
 

Next year, we should be Algarve residents (see my page about our Algarve property purchase for an explanation) so I should be able to visit Fiesa on more than one day. I'm planning to return there for the last evening again. Listening to a good live band on a balmy evening with a cool drink to hand is just too tempting. As is relaxing under the stars with your partner (on a dais covered in Oriental carpets and cushions, courtesy of Fiesa 2005).

Tres romantic - and if you want more ideas about romantic Algarve, see my page that's devoted to the subject...

 

Fiesa 2005, by (almost) candlelight!

 

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© 2005 Jennifer Dodds   algarve-beach-life.com