The Messi of the Peonza? (Favourite toy 3)

Do you have 'crazes' that go through your school? Football cards? Hippie Sticks? Skipping? It's the same here in España. Every couple of months a new craze will take over the playground (patio). We've had marbles (canicas), Monster High dolls... and just before the summer hols, PEONZAS!

Have peonzas ever become a 'craze' in your school?  What? You don't know what a peonza is?? Watch this...

Formula uno

This is Gustavo Castro (from Mexico), professional spinning top demonstrator/competitor. He showed up in the 'park' near where we live one evening and gave a masterclass to a couple of dozen children.

Here's his 'spinning on the tongue' trick...

Spinning on tongue.

When I was young spinning tops were made of wood, but the latest models are now mostly plastic with steel tips, and some of the children at school got quite good at getting them to spin for long periods. But none of them could do this...

Skipping

Or this...

Very high throw... and catch!

And finally, this. What I call his 'Messi' display. 

Messi-top skills.

Impressive, isn't it? And no, there's no messing about with the video, this was me and him in a park. (With a couple of dozen Spanish chicos and chicas gazing wide-eyed and then trying it all out for themselves.) 

So go on. Get down to your local toy shop and pick up a peonza (they're sometimes called 'trompos') and see what you can do? 

I would have shot more video but towards the end some of the children started trying out the 'very high throw and catch' trick. Except it turned out to be more of a 'very high throw and hit people on the head' trick. So I went home...

C U next week for some more Spanish street life...