Eye On Travel: Go-vember: Leave the Leaves to Get a Festival Fix

November: Make your own entertainment

November is the calm before the Festive storm. Usually associated with bad weather, left over pumpkins and leaves which keep regenerating over and over again in gardens and drives whilst paralysing the rail network.

The one quite literal bright spark is the 5th of November where an attempt to blow up Parliament is oddly celebrated with bonfires, fireworks and usually rain. So let’s look at some of the warmer alternatives to enjoy in November.

Aguardiente: Your my best amigo you are

The small Cantabrian town of Potes in the mountainous Picos de Europa area of northern Spain sparks up between 13-15 November this year with the Fiesta Del Orujo. This celebrates distillation of locally produced grape spirit Aguardiente.

It comes in several flavours -presumably to take the edge off it -and is consumed is large quantities along with local tapas dishes long into the night which won’t feel cold at all by then. Clear your head afterwards with a spot of hiking dependent on the weather.

GET THERE: Potes is just over 100km from Santander (the city not the bank). Hire a car or go by bus (2h). Fly to Santander or lose weight in the Bay of Biscay on a ferry from Portsmouth.

Oaxaca: Wasn’t Halloween last week?

For something warmer and a little darker, head to Oaxaca, Mexico on 1-2 November for the Diá de los Muertos, the cheery sounding Day of the Dead. This is a celebration for those who have passed on and involves reflective daytimes followed by lively evenings.

Spectacular costumed parades are respectful but celebratory based on the Aztecs belief that death is a form of rebirth. Expect a frighteningly long night with food and music.

GET THERE: Oaxaca is a one hour flight south of Mexico City which has flights from Heathrow. Probably worth getting rid of the skull face paint before going through security.

Lanterns: Which one was mine again?

Next up we are featuring a double header from Thailand. Head to second city Chiang Mai for the best Festivals of Light from 13-15 November. Yi Peng involves releasing thousands of Lanna style lanterns into the sky, hopefully far away from the airport.

Loy Krathong is the releasing of banana leaf boats with flowers, candles and incense on to the river. Together the two are the spiritual process of cleansing the soul and make quite a sight.

GET THERE: Chiang Mai is a 1h by air from Bangkok. Enjoy the city and its markets and with a few days more, go trekking in the hill tribe areas or visit an elephant sanctuary.

Furred Fiesta: Macaque handed

The second place in Thailand to visit is Lopburi between 25-28 November for the Monkey Banquet. This involves around two tonnes of fresh fruit, rice and nuts being placed around the town of Lopburi for the 3,000 resident macaque monkeys to eat.

It is believed the furry residents bring good luck to the town -except when they chew through the phone cables- so this is their reward and they have free reign to go where they please.

GET THERE: Lopburi is about 3h by train from Bangkok, less by bus or taxi. It can be visited in a long day or take 2 days and combine with the temples of ancient capital Ayutthaya.

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david@eyelinetravel.co.uk

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