SALAMANCA, SPAIN - For me, storks were birds drawn to make us believe that as children we set out on our first trip around the world aboard a bag held by that caring character that made us reach our parents' lives.
Yes, storks do exist and they have their own home in Salamanca. To discover them, to admire them in their haven on top of an old building is one of the daily gifts of this city that keeps astonishing us.
The image of the enormous birds is part of the urban scene of a city that is doubly animated in June by the International Festival of the Arts of Castilla y León, FÀCYL, which combines music, dance, new technologies applied to the arts, circus, video mapping, exhibitions, art, and literature.
To fully experience FÀCYL 2024 you must know how to get lost in the winding and steep streets of Salamanca, which fortunately lead you to a good place, especially when you follow the yellow arrows.
One arrives with high expectations because of the wide and extended programming for the whole day, and in places that are not always as close as around a corner, but you have to keep yourself safe from that anxiety.
We welcomed the first day of the festival with the ambition to get to every place announced, and at every step, we began to discard the plan because it is not enjoyable when you are in too much of a hurry.
We started by browsing the installation of the Portal of Time, located in the Plaza Anaya; and we continued to the Patio de Escuelas Menores behind the sculpture of GRANTECAN, something that is complemented by the opportunity to be closer to the Sun and the Moon thanks to the telescopes of local associations.
We returned to both sites after dark, because what during the day are cold structures, in the dark become illuminated screens with visual poems and the history of an institution focused on unraveling every enigma of the universe.
In the Plaza Mayor, something also surprising happened. Projecting on stone has become habitual in the façade of the Town Hall, and this year it has moved entire families by video mapping with children's drawings.
It is comforting to see the inhabitants transformed from spectators into enthusiastic participants, who are grateful to feel part of the efforts of a joyful festival, driven with respect and embroidered with affection.
A visual artist from Salamanca confirmed the certainty of our choice to take our time, to give ourselves certain pauses. At the Sala Unamuno, Monica Egido exhibits FOMO, a photographic essay with installation and video on anxiety and stress caused by the overexertion of the present time.
Indeed, at the beginning, we feared we would not get to everything, but we quickly learned our lesson and that is what we recommend: draw an emotional guide and share the privilege of walking Salamanca with all the colors of FÀCYL 2024 and of the station itself.
With the arrival of the end of the school year, the city is filled with a festive atmosphere. Students, dressed in their finery, celebrate academic achievements with smiles and hugs, while parents and teachers look on with pride and excitement.
The streets and squares become improvised scenes of farewells and promises of reunion, adorned with the hustle and bustle of laughter and group photos. The terraces of the cafes are filled with groups toasting to another year and the challenges ahead. The spirit of celebration is in the air, marking the end of a stage and the beginning of a well-deserved summer break.
It is with great emotion and gratitude that we bid farewell to an event and a city that has proven to be a vibrant meeting point for creativity and artistic expression. During these days, the city has been filled with color, music, theater and dance, artists, and visitors from all over the world.
We take with us indelible memories and the promise of coming together again to continue celebrating art in all its forms. After all, at FÀCYL, knowing how to get lost is equivalent to finding oneself in a celebration of the arts and audiences, of the city and culture.
Translated by Linet Acuña Quilez