![](https://i0.wp.com/4.bp.blogspot.com/-Gn5MF6H8NaY/ToErqOmr0kI/AAAAAAAADcE/SSYxwz_8ovk/s400/Parade+of+Nations%252C+Part+2-5%252C+Regas+Square%252C+Knoxville%252C+September+2011.jpg?resize=316%2C400) |
Parade of Nations, Hola Festival 2011, Knoxville |
![](https://i0.wp.com/2.bp.blogspot.com/-CSzPyO99na4/ToErvKpk0LI/AAAAAAAADcM/Y34S4dDhhd8/s400/Parade+of+Nations%252C+Part+2-6%252C+Regas+Square%252C+Knoxville%252C+September+2011.jpg?resize=400%2C297) |
Mariachi Band, Hola Festival, Knoxville |
As promised, here are more of the great sights from the Hola Festival, Parade of Nations. To the best of my knowledge, I don’t have an ounce of Latin blood, but it fills me with pride to see people so happy about their country of origin.
![](https://i0.wp.com/4.bp.blogspot.com/-zsr8DqQ83gE/ToErJ3u672I/AAAAAAAADb0/8DJ4rv5Ggh4/s200/Parade+of+Nations%252C+Part+2-1%252C+Regas+Square%252C+Knoxville%252C+September+2011.jpg?resize=129%2C200) |
Hola Festival 2011 |
![](https://i0.wp.com/3.bp.blogspot.com/-40zbdWPer3Q/ToErMyy5BPI/AAAAAAAADb4/_hq9KFYdy50/s200/Parade+of+Nations%252C+Part+2-2%252C+Regas+Square%252C+Knoxville%252C+September+2011.jpg?resize=138%2C200) |
Hola Festival 2011 |
![](https://i0.wp.com/4.bp.blogspot.com/-VmRkjThofT8/ToErems1QlI/AAAAAAAADb8/LEAnvZgf2vY/s400/Parade+of+Nations%252C+Part+2-3%252C+Regas+Square%252C+Knoxville%252C+September+2011.jpg?resize=400%2C333) |
Parade of Nations, Hola Festival 2011, Knoxville |
The best analogy I have in my own experience is a trip I made to Japan a number of years ago. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and found the culture to be fascinating and admirable in many ways. I stayed with a Japanese family for a week and when the time came to leave I teared up. Still, a few days later in Tokyo, as I walked through a back-street food market, I heard the unmistakable sounds of Emmylou Harris singing the “Tennessee Waltz.” I nearly cried.
![](https://i0.wp.com/1.bp.blogspot.com/-wbaacmZMfEk/ToErk8jvarI/AAAAAAAADcA/HSYHuPN_ttI/s400/Parade+of+Nations%252C+Part+2-4%252C+Regas+Square%252C+Knoxville%252C+September+2011.jpg?resize=332%2C400) |
Parade of Nations, Hola Festival 2011, Knoxville |
![](https://i0.wp.com/2.bp.blogspot.com/-F8WPNDnRTHo/ToEr1epk1UI/AAAAAAAADcQ/jsgKGIXbCPw/s200/Parade+of+Nations%252C+Part+2-7%252C+Regas+Square%252C+Knoxville%252C+September+2011.jpg?resize=120%2C200) |
Hola Festival 2011 |
![](https://i0.wp.com/2.bp.blogspot.com/-DhNkQpSwMWY/ToEr3wRmjtI/AAAAAAAADcU/GukLup8uTAY/s200/Parade+of+Nations%252C+Part+2-8%252C+Regas+Square%252C+Knoxville%252C+September+2011.jpg?resize=123%2C200) |
Hola Festival 2011 |
I’ve never been so proud of the place where I lived. It wasn’t about any disregard for the place I was visiting, but there is something about the first place that ever meant “home.” There’s nothing like it. That’s what I see in the Parade of Nations: People having one small chance outside their daily lives to raise a glass or lift a cheer for “home,” and who among us can’t relate to that?
![](https://i0.wp.com/3.bp.blogspot.com/-GprzgiWVGbU/ToEr743eerI/AAAAAAAADcY/wvx9em1c8Hk/s400/Parade+of+Nations%252C+Part+2-9%252C+Regas+Square%252C+Knoxville%252C+September+2011.jpg?resize=315%2C400) |
Hola Festival 2011, Knoxville |
![](https://i0.wp.com/1.bp.blogspot.com/-zxI2pRZQ4c8/ToEsRWY3WcI/AAAAAAAADcc/Dpq_dXcpD_o/s400/Parade+of+Nations%252C+Part+2-10%252C+Regas+Square%252C+Knoxville%252C+September+2011.jpg?resize=400%2C347) |
Hola Festival 2011, Knoxville |
![](https://i0.wp.com/2.bp.blogspot.com/-uKcyeJtVG7o/ToEsYt-PFzI/AAAAAAAADcg/yVkBiDduh-Q/s400/Parade+of+Nations%252C+Part+2-11%252C+Regas+Square%252C+Knoxville%252C+September+2011.jpg?resize=313%2C400) |
Hola Festival 2011, Knoxville |
I hope you enjoy the pictures and feel a little of the joy of this marvelous day in the city.
![](https://i0.wp.com/3.bp.blogspot.com/-qvD5cpgr55Q/ToEsdENePoI/AAAAAAAADck/UomTE7jG-IM/s400/Parade+of+Nations%252C+Part+2-12%252C+Regas+Square%252C+Knoxville%252C+September+2011.jpg?resize=362%2C400) |
Parade of Nations, Hola Festival 2011, Knoxville |
![](https://i0.wp.com/1.bp.blogspot.com/-KD28jFqX2aY/ToEsjjPfZjI/AAAAAAAADco/CQOLIdpzCUo/s400/Parade+of+Nations%252C+Part+2-13%252C+Regas+Square%252C+Knoxville%252C+September+2011.jpg?resize=400%2C353) |
Parade of Nations, Hola Festival 2011, Knoxville |
![](https://i0.wp.com/4.bp.blogspot.com/-f_UdHNs5HBg/ToEso9JifLI/AAAAAAAADcs/oiL7wJUxbmo/s200/Parade+of+Nations%252C+Part+2-14%252C+Regas+Square%252C+Knoxville%252C+September+2011.jpg?resize=139%2C200) |
Hola Festival 2011 |
![](https://i0.wp.com/1.bp.blogspot.com/-K3iZFJJtyGs/ToEvIc3IdDI/AAAAAAAADcw/Ci40Ylbh7-k/s200/Parade+of+Nations%252C+Part+2-15.jpg?resize=125%2C200) |
Hola Festival 2011 |
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