New York Firemen in Seville

[Rosina Lila]

Hello you all,
Enough has been written, acted and sang a bout Holy Week in Seville over the past 1,500 years or so that I cannot possibly add anything to it
This year, however, something of special interest to New Yorkers in particular and americans in general took place.
On Tuesday, a contingent of New York Firemen took part in the procession of the "Javieres" Cofradia, serving as honor guides of the imagen of the Virgin.
That procession transverses about 8 kilometers (from its parish to the Official Way, through the Cathedral and back to its parish), it took about 9 hours, 2 more than usual, because of the applause and honors that our firemen received from the hundreds of thousands that lined the parade route.
I have seats very close to the entrance of the Cathedral, right by where the processions go by, on the first row, (sometimes it dazzles, and humbles, me to reflect how unbelievably fortunate I am in most things), and although I was somewhat prepared, when the firemen approached, in front of the Virgin´s palio, in their dress uniforms, with the Captain at the center wearing his white cap, amidst the thunderous applause of everyone and showered by white carnations and shouts of ¨"valientes! valientes!", I just went to pieces, and cried, and sobbed, and cried, I am sure to the consternation of my Sevillian friends who´d never seen me as other than cheerful.
Because of my unexpected emotional reaction I was not able to take any pictures, but did hand my camera to a friend and who did so.  If any of the pictures come out, I will send them on to dear Pieter so that he may make them available to those of you who may want to see them.
I just thought you´d like to know.
Meanwhile, have a lovely Easter.
I intend to spend as much time as I can on my knees praying, and praying, and praying for peace in the Holy Land.
Affectionate regards,
Rosina