From typicallyspanish.com
Sevilla celebrates the April Fair in the rain
By h.b.
Apr 8, 2008 - 7:35 AM
A wet April Feria is forecast in Sevilla this week. The celebrations got underway last night with the switching on of the fairground illuminations and the consumption of an estimated 16,000 kilos of fried fish and 8,000 kilos of gambas. The wet conditions made little difference as thousands of Sevillanos were determined to start a week of partying.
The lights were switched on by the Mayor of the city, Alfredo Sánchez Monteseirín, and the local group, Los Cantores de Híspalis opened the proceedings on what is their 30th anniversary. This year there are 1,040 marquees or casetas in the Sevilla feria, and as many as 25,000 lightbulbs in the grand archway which gives entrance to the fairground, and 367,000 in the whole fairgound.
This year the gateway represents ‘El Costurero de la Reina’ and is 50 metres wide and 40 metres high. El Costurero is a small hexagonal building in Sevilla in the form of a small castle, dating from 1893, and which can be found near the San Telmo Palace.
A threatened local bus strike in the city was solved at the last moment, and RENFE Spanish railways is adding 20,000 more places to its high speed AVE service from Madrid for the duration of the feria which ends on April 13.