Travel for Travel's Sake: The Legend of San Jorge

I am going to attempt to describe to all of you the most amazing festival ever. This weekend was San Jorge in Spain. (That's Saint George for those of you non-Spanish speakers :P). San Jorge is a huge deal in Caceres because he is the patron saint of the city. There was a huge theatrical production re-enacting the legend. I am going to do my best to tell the story. You have to picture me as a distinguished-looking older man sitting in a huge arm chair with a pipe in front of a fire. Actually, having all you picture me as a guy kind of bothers me. Just picture a guy telling you this story. Oh, and you have to read it with a Masterpiece Theater voice in your head. But before I begin I would just like to say that I have absolutely nothing against Christians or Muslims. This is just a story and in no way reflects my personal feelings. So, that being said, gather round everyone while I take you back many, many years ago to a time of knights, princesses and dragons...

In days long past the country of Spain was inhabited by Muslims, and in the west of Spain lay a grand city called Caceres. In the days of the Muslims there was a King and Queen who ruled over Caceres. They had a beautiful daughter and all the subjects of the court loved her for she was beautiful and kind. It is said that so great was her beauty that roses refused to bloom in her presence for their color paled in comparison to her ruby lips, and there was nary a star that shone bright as her eyes.

One day, the Princess went for a walk with her maid outside the city limits. It was there that the Christian knight, San Jorge, first met her. Upon his first gaze of her beautiful face he fell in love with her and she with him. In those days the Muslims and the Christians were enemies, and so theirs was a secret love. However, seeing the purity of their feelings for one another, the maid took pity on them and helped them hide their relationship from the King and Queen. The maid stole a key to the city so that San Jorge might sneak in at night to see the Princess.

For many nights all was well, but one day the key fell from San Jorge's pocket in the Christian court. The Christian king was angry and declared war on the Muslims. He put San Jorge at the front of the line to prove his loyalty to God and his people. When the Muslim king learned that his daughter had fault in causing the war he was infuriated. So great was his anger that he sent for a wizard who turned the beautiful princess into a hen.

The war was long and bloody. Many a knight perished in battle, and the Christians were losing for the Muslims had unleashed a fierce and fiery dragon upon them. The battles were long and the Christians fought fiercely, but none could best the great beast until one night, in the heat of a great battle, as Christian men were falling left and right around him and with the anger of losing his true love burning strong inside him, San Jorge mounted his white stallion and took up his fire-tipped lance. He charged the dragon and fought with every ounce of strength within him. With a great surge of strength and with the guidance of the Lord he plunged the lance into the mouth of the beast. The dragon let out a terrible scream and perished as his body burned.

And so San Jorge slayed the dragon, winning the war for the Christians. The Muslim kingdom fell and the Christians overtook the castle and city in the name of God. San Jorge was raised up and lauded by all. He was named the patron of Caceres for his loyalty to the cross, and all the Christians rejoiced in their victory.

And never was there a story of more woe than that of...oh wait. Wrong story. My bad...

So that's the legend. The festival was amazing. They acted out this whole story. There were belly dancers, fire jugglers, acrobats, sword fights and a parade. There were fireworks that would put the fourth of July to shame (lit off the top of a roof directly over the crowd so we were pelted with hot ash and legit fireballs because apparently burning its citizens isn't a huge concern of Spain). There were freakin ninjas! But the coolest, most bad ass thing about this festival was the fact this was all acted out in the Plaza Mayor. In front of a real castle that's over a thousand years old. Where a man dressed in armor on the back of a real white horse plunged an actual fire-tipped lance into 20-foot tall dragon. Yes. A dragon. They build one every year and have some guy slay it. And it actually burns. It. Was. Awesome. I want to found a town and make up a crazy legend just so I can have my own San Jorge. And you bet your ass we will burn a freaking dragon every year.

My pictures aren't great because it was night and everything was moving so fast, but here are a few for your enjoyment.