A small rock in the Atlantic: San Isidro Livestock Fair, 2011

Statue of San Isidro, the farm labourer, Breña Alta

Statue of Saint Isidore the Laborer

This weekend they're holding the second biggest livestock fair on the island, at San Isidro, in Breña Alta. (The biggest is San Antonio del Monte, in June).

It starts off with a procession which brings the statue of the saint from the church to the fairground at 9 am on Saturday.

Cattle at the fair of St. Isidore, Breña Alta, La Palma island

Cattle at the fair of St. Isidore, Breña Alta

People bring their animals, and there are prizes for the best milk cow, best bull, best goat, etc. Most of the animals are tied up in big field while they wait for the judging, and you can go around admiring them. (I hope someone brings them water later.) The priest blesses the animals at noon, and they have a competition to see which bulls can drag a heavy load the fastest at 4 pm. During the day there's a drawing competition and Wii games for the children. Later on Saturday night they'll be a dance.

On Sunday, there's a cycle race during the day and a horse race at 7pm. And later, a procession takes the statue of the saint back to the church.