Pirates are fine! – Pirate Festival
Pirate Festival – “Yo-ho, yo-ho pirates have it good!” Captain Jack Sparrow was already singing while he stabbed his beloved pirate ship, grinning broadly. Looting, hijacking, throwing the manners overboard and tipping the rum behind the eyepatch in the barrel… Yes, such a pirate existence has something!
Life in Pirate Times
Of course, the life of simple citizens was not always rosy in pirate times. especially the residents of the former fishing village l’estartit used to have little laughter. The now uninhabited Medes islands that stretch off the coast were a real pirate stronghold in the 16th century. Whether pirate, corsair, pirate or scoundrels of a different kind, they were all up to mischief here. Quite to the horror of the rural population, because that was countless times the destination of the pirate raids!
The pirates are out!
Although the past of the fishing village is still anchored in the minds of the villagers, nowadays it is taken with more humor. I was able to get a picture of that myself at the pirate festival of L’Estartit. Arriving in the small village, I immediately feel the changed mood of the otherwise quiet holiday resort: Excited expectation and an excited confusion of voices is in the air. During the day, boat trips to the Medes Islands, workshops, exhibitions and an arts and crafts market. But now in the evening, after the sun has already sunk and the moon adorns the sky, something else is on the program. It’s getting dangerous and it’s getting loud…the pirates are coming!
Fire dancer and swordsman at the pirate festival
In the next two hours, a spectacle will be offered on the beach in L’Estartit, so you’re amazed. Starting with torchlight trains with musical accompaniment, the mood increases with adventurous-looking fire dances and extremely real-looking sword fights. But that wasn’t all. I let my gaze slide over the deep black sea off the hustle and bustle on the beach for a moment – something catches my eye. Something big and bright that’s getting closer and closer. A huge pirate ship, full of belligerent barbarians, who swing wildly roaring their sabers. It’s not just the children who fold down their jaws at this sight – me too! The first pirates are already jumping overboard and walking towards the beach. The untamed fight that follows couldn’t be more spectacular.
Fireworks show on the beach
A gigantic fireworks display then provides the crowning glory of the production on the beach.
Grand finale at the church square
But the show is not over yet. With a loud noise, the entire pirate game moves through the streets of the village – and of course we’re hot on our heels. On the church square, all the pirates and corsairs come together again and celebrate the end of the spectacle with high spirits. For many visitors, however, this was just the beginning of a long, relaxed night. They devote themselves – in old pirate fashion – to the next barrel. We just say “Drink from Pirates, Yo-Ho!”
More: l’Estartit.
