We Three Kings...

Out enjoying the atmosphere in Barcelona as the population welcome the Three Kings to town with parades that attract hundreds of thousands of people with millions of sweeties being thrown out from the floats all leading to wild sweetie scrambles on the street. Kids are hugging and kissing each other in anticipation of what the kings will bring to them, in answer to their letters, all of which will be revealed tomorrow morning when they wake up with the first chirps of the dawn chorus. These ring cakes (roscones) are the traditional fayre; in Spain, roscones bought in pastry shops hide in their interior a figure - either of Jesus or others like little toys for kids and a dry faba bean. Whoever finds the figure is crowned and becomes the "king" or "queen" of the banquet, whereas whoever finds the bean has to pay next year's roscón!

The shops and stalls will be open to midnight and beyond, and the restaurants are full to bulging as I write!