Sunday, April 12, 2009

Valencia March 2009










Stephanie: On our trip to Spain, we went to Valencia first.  The city was having Las Falles, a huge festival where neighborhoods sponsor Falles, papier-mache monuments that they burn on the last night.  It's a week-long celebration, businesses shut down and everyone parties.  It was certainly like nothing we'd experienced before.

We learned early that the Spanish like fire, staying up late and having a good time!
The first night, we tried to look at as many Falles as possible around the city.  There were over 700 in Valencia and the surrounding area.

We tried to sleep in the next morning after a long day of travel and a late night but it wasn't to be as the city's wake-up call consisted of ear-splitting firecrackers going off at 8a.m.  This continued throughout the day and all night.  Children as young as two also lit firecrackers in the street.

The following day, we explored Valencia.  We enjoyed Spanish tapas at a cafe and waded in the Mediterranean.  The weather was cooler than I expected but still very nice.  The Falles started burning around 10p.m.  Each Falles was like its own bonfire and fireworks show.  I was surprised to see so many blazes close to people's flats, cars and historic buildings but there were lots of firemen on hand--they obviously know what they're doing.  We had a great time!

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