Last night, Saturday 20th May, was La Noche de los Museos, The Night of the Museums.

It was another unbelievable event hosted in the city.  This is on at the same time as Mucho Mas Mayo another city wide event happening 12th to 21st May.  A multi-discipline arts event with a massive events list including art installations, music, conferences, exhibitions happening all over.  There is a great English language website called Murcia Today which has local news and events happening all over the region.  However, the Night of the Museums and Mucho Mas Mayo at the same time was far too much for them to translate in the time frame.  They did however provide a translation for the huge programme of events happening yesterday for The Night of the Museums.  You can see from my picture how large the programme was for one day.

Night of the Museum Event List

Back to La Noche De Los Museos.  All city museums were open from 8pm Saturday night to 2am Sunday morning and were free to enter; many having additional events.

• We saw an exhibit of local boats similar to the Cornish Oyster boats
• listened to a free for all drumming event called “Team Building” (urgh the memories of corporate team building events)
• listened to an orchestra playing on the stage in the Roman Theatre – we think one piece was from Lord of the Rings
• had a walk around the Naval Museum

rope work at the Nautical Museum

• briefly watched an interpretive dance (not sure what was going on but they were rolling around each other one with an open book).

We were going to go into City Hall but the queue was very slow moving so we moved to the stage out front where a swing band was just setting up.  As they were tuning up we heard loud, very loud, drumming approaching and a group came down Calle Mayor into the square and stopped in front of the swing band stage and performed.  They were brilliant.

The swing band then started and played one song and the couple in front of us danced.  They were dressed in swing style and added to the atmosphere.  However, the band seemed to be having sound problems and we didn’t wait to see them start again.

Swing Band

As we headed back at 11pm, yes very early I know, a band was setting up just outside the marina.  They kicked off at midnight then at 2am we had a 15minute firework display with the loudest fireworks I have every heard.  I think the Navy must of been in charge and added some extra gunpowder.  You could feel the bang reverberate through the boat into your chest.

The city was heaving with people of all ages, there were Romans and Carthiginians about (getting another use out of their costumes I guess), family groups, teenagers (a lot around Burger King on the front).  There was a really nice vibe.  People queued patiently to get into the museums and there were street events to keep people entertained.

Another example of Cartagena being Cartagena.  These events are not put on for tourists but happen for the locals usually by the locals and if you are visiting and get to see them then it is sheer luck and a joy.

Superyacht Yas

As an aside, we had a new neighbour for the day.  Superyacht Yas is owned by HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan.  Sheikh Hamdan is the 4th son of the late Emir of Abu Dhabi and founder of UAE, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. He is half-brother of the current Emir and UAE president Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan (owner of Azzam, the world’s largest yacht).  It is the first superyacht with a helicopter sat on the deck that I have seen.  Although we didn’t see or hear, apparently she hit the dock as she turned in with quite a bang which was heard on the other side of the marina.  Doh