When sailors from Bari saved the relics(bones) of Saint Nicholas from his resting place in Muslim controlled Myra, Turkey in 1087, they began a tradition which in 2016, celebrates its 929th anniversary: the Festa di San Nicola. It is a week of non-stop festivities. Historical processions with crowds of people lining the streets (we were in the middle of it!) downtown old Bari was all decorated and ready to be lit up at a certain hour ( we thought it would be at 9PM but found out later it was 9:30--we were just too tired to wait for it) Ships come into harbour all lit up with a huge statue of San Nicola (Saint Nick--Santa--yes there are bones to prove he is dead...don't tell the kids!) The streets were all blocked off everywhere for days...This is a city of 300,000 and 116 square km's. with Edmonton being 680 sq.km's and 800,000. Traffic is a nightmare..The length of the harbour is one huge marketplace and multiple food trucks. It was fun to walk it and get a feel for Festa di San Nicola.
We knew this would be beautiful when lit up but the SENIOR missionaries were too tired to wait for it. I posted a picture at the end to show what it looks like lit up. The crowd at the back are waiting on the street for the parade to start and it was only 8:45 with the parade starting at 9:30.
Below is one of the food trucks--see the roast pig sitting out in the open air??
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