An unplanned cultural exchange became an unofficial part of the recent El Festival Española de Nueva Iberia when two Spaniards from New Iberia’s sister city stumbled into a Delcambre bar and their experience was one of the highlights of their visit.

The two Spanish men were here for the weekend, sent by New Iberia’s sister city, Alhaurin de la Torre, in the province of Malaga, in southern Spain. Both are affiliated with the city there and were sent to represent the community from which many of the original Spanish settlers of New Iberia originated.

Wife Gladys was their unofficial hostess since her mother was from Spain and she speaks Spanish fluently. One of the two Spaniards spoke a few basic words of English, the other next to none.

They told of their adventure — through Gladys —of how a local was taking them around to see some of the sights and included a drive to Delcambre to show them that community, the boats along the canal and more. I believe they were on their way to Abbeville where they were to have dinner. They never made it.

It was unclear whose idea it was, but apparently they stopped to have something to drink at Bayou Billiards Sports Bar next to the canal. I’m not sure what all happened, but the story I heard through Gladys’ interpreting suggested they had a great time.

They talked animatedly about how nice were the many people they met at Bayou Billiards. They had their photos taken with a number of patrons. I think their names got written on a blackboard there, like some restaurants post pictures of visiting celebrities.

They enjoyed some free supper they were served, but had absolutely no idea of what they were eating. They were most impressed to meet a Delcambre police officer — just in passing, not as part of any official duty. Before they had even left New Iberia they had posted pictures from their Delcambre experience on their Facebook pages and shared their great adventure with friends back home.

They both had complimentary things to say about lots of their experiences while visiting New Iberia, in particular how friendly and nice were the many people they had met while here. They found adventure in many other things they saw or experienced or ate here.

But clearly their experience at Bayou Billiards in Delcambre was a highlight, so much so they were late getting around the next day because they had such a good time and apparently stayed out much later than planned.

Kudos to the folks in Delcambre and Bayou Billiards who made such a positive impression on two visiting Spaniards. You may want to start hosting tour buses for foreign visitors. You clearly made big impression on these two.

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I took some vacation time Thanksgiving week. Gladys and I drove up to Natchitoches Friday to see its famous Christmas lights along the beautiful Cane River that flows through the city. I read they have more than 30,000 Christmas lights, and more than 100 lighted displays along the riverbanks. It was most impressive, particularly the snow-making machines that caused it to snow every so often during the evening we were there.

Not sure what was in that snow but it sure looked real.

 

WILL CHAPMAN is publisher of The Daily Iberian